Prevention of hepatic metastases in rabbits by administration of an oily anticancer agent into the portal vein

We studied one kind of prophylactic chemotherapy against hepatic metastases. The therapy was carried out with a lymphographic oily contrast medium. Lipiodol, and a high-molecular-weight anticancer agent known as SMANCS. SMANCS was dissolved in Lipiodol by sonication (SMANCS/Lipiodol, 1 mg of SMANCS in 1 ml of Lipiodol). SMANCS/Lipiodol, administered into the portal vein, remained for a long time in the portal vein and was eliminated gradually through the bile and urine. SMANCS/Lipiodol (0.4ml/kg) was injected into the mesenteric vein in rabbits, which were then inoculated with the highly malignant carcinoma VX-2. Rabbits injected with SMANCS/Lipiodol before inoculation had significantly fewer hepatic metastases than the control 12 days later (P less than 0.001). Survival was significantly longer (P less than 0.005; 36.0 +/- 7.7 days) with SMANCS/Lipiodol before inoculation than without treatment (23.5 +/- 3.0 days). Hepatic metastases might thus be prevented by portal administration of an appropriate oily anticancer agent.