Isolated lung perfusion with melphalan prolongs survival in a rat model of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Survival after isolated lung perfusion (ILuP) with melphalan was tested in a model of unilateral pulmonary adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
On day 0, rats were randomized into four groups: Group 1 (n = 9) received tumor cells intravenously for induction of bilateral lung metastases, whereas groups 2-4 (n = 21) underwent a 10-min occlusion of the right pulmonary artery during tumor cell injection for induction of unilateral left lung metastases. On day 7, groups 1 and 2 received no treatment. Group 3 underwent left ILuP with melphalan (2.0 mg/kg) while group 4 received melphalan intravenously (0.5 mg/kg). The end point of the study was death from metastatic disease.


RESULTS
Median survival of ILuP-treated animals (81 +/- 12 days) was significantly longer compared to group 1 (18 +/- 1 days; p = 0.0001), group 2 (28 +/- 3 days; p = 0.0002) and group 4 (37 +/- 6; p = 0.0004).


CONCLUSIONS
ILuP with melphalan prolongs survival in the treatment of experimental metastatic pulmonary carcinoma.
Hendriks
J M
JM
Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. j.hendriks@planetinternet.be
Van Schil
P E
PE
Van Oosterom
A A
AA
Kuppen
P J
PJ
Van Marck
E
E
Eyskens
E
E
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000818:Animals; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015996:Survival Rate
D008558:Melphalan