In vitro polyvinylformaldehyde particle compatibility with chemotherapeutic drugs used for chemoembolization therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Because the effects of pirarubicin and carboplatin on the physical structure of particles made from polyvinylformaldehyde are not well known, we describe an experiment to test the in vitro polyvinylformaldehyde particle compatibility with these drugs used for chemoembolization of bone metastases.


METHODS
Polyvinylformaldehyde particles (Ultra-Drivalon) were mixed in vitro with either pirarubicin or carboplatin as experimental samples, and with distilled water as control samples, and left for 24 h at 37 degrees C. The particles used measured 150-250 microm and 600-1000 microm in diameter. Particle morphology, including appearance, overall shape, and surface characteristics were examined using a microscope equipped with a videocamera. Particle size was measured by granulometry. Qualitative and quantitative variables were analyzed using, respectively, the two-sided Fisher's exact test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired values, with a significance level of 0.05.


RESULTS
No broken particles or microscopic degradations in the appearance, overall shape, or surface characteristics of any particles were observed. The particle size distribution was not significantly different between the experimental samples containing pirarubicin or carboplatin and the control sample of particles with diameters in the same range.


CONCLUSIONS
Particles made from polyvinylformaldehyde can be mixed with pirarubicin or carboplatin without any risk of damaging their physical properties.
Vallée
Jean-Noël
JN
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, Medical University of Paris 6, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France. valleejn@free.fr
Guillevin
Remy
R
Lo
Daouda
D
Adem
Carmen
C
Benois
Florence
F
Chiras
Jacques
J
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004355:Drug Stability; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008422:Materials Testing; D010316:Particle Size; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013499:Surface Properties
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027490:polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde foam; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D016190:Carboplatin; C027260:pirarubicin