Instillation of taurolidine/heparin after laparotomy reduces intraperitoneal tumour growth in a colon cancer rat model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether irrigation of the abdominal cavity after laparotomy for caecum resection with taurolidine/heparin or adhesion prophylactic substances reduces intraperitoneal tumour growth or the local recurrence rate in a colon carcinoma rat model.


METHODS
60 BDIX rats underwent caecum resection after intraperitoneal inoculation of 1 x 10(4) colon carcinoma cells (DHD/K12/TRb). Intergel, Interceed, taurolidine/heparin or NaCl 0.9% were intraperitoneally applied after randomisation. Finally, the total number and total weight of intraperitoneal metastases were determined as well as the adhesion score according to Moreno. Metastatic tissue was examined histologically and immunohistochemically (E-cadherin, CD44, beta(1)-integrin).


RESULTS
Taurolidine/heparin significantly reduced not only the total number (3 vs. 11 in the control group) but also the total weight (65 vs. 330 mg) of intraperitoneal metastases in comparison to the control group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.005). E-Cadherin expression in the metastatic tissue of animals treated with taurolidine/heparin was significantly decreased (p = 0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
Taurolidine/heparin effectively reduces intraperitoneal tumour growth when used as an intraoperative lavage. These results represent a good rationale for intraoperative adjuvant irrigation with taurolidine/heparin during resection of colon cancer.
Opitz
I
I
Department of Thoraxic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland.
Van der Veen
H
H
Witte
N
N
Braumann
C
C
Mueller
J M
JM
Jacobi
C A
CA
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013829:Thiadiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control
D000925:Anticoagulants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013829:Thiadiazines; D013654:Taurine; C012566:taurolidine; D006493:Heparin