Efficacy of doxorubicin coupled to lactosaminated albumin on rat hepatocellular carcinomas evaluated by ultrasound imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Doxorubicin was conjugated with lactosaminated human albumin, a hepatotropic drug carrier, in order to increase its efficacy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In rats bearing hepatocellular carcinomas induced by diethylnitrosamine, lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin enhanced the drug concentrations in the tumours and lowered those in extrahepatic tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin on the growth of established rat hepatocellular carcinomas induced by diethylnitrosamine.


METHODS
Lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin and the free drug were i.v. administered to rats twice a week for 4 weeks at the single dose of 1 microg/g. Growth of individual tumours was followed through time by ultrasonography.


RESULTS
In the control animals injected with saline the mean area of the tracked tumours significantly increased during the whole period of treatment. In the group of rats treated with lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin the mean area of the followed hepatocellular carcinomas remained practically unchanged. The free drug inhibited tumour growth only in the first period of drug administration. Lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin also hindered the development of new neoplastic nodules, which was unaffected by the free drug.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support lactosaminated human albumin coupled doxorubicin as a promising agent for a systemic chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinomas to treat noncurable patients.
Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
G
G
Di Stefano
L
L
Fiume
M
M
Baglioni
L
L
Bolondi
P
P
Chieco
F
F
Kratz
M
M
Pariali
G
G
Rubini
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D012709:Serum Albumin; C046912:lactosaminated serum albumin; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D004317:Doxorubicin