Comparison of intra-arterial versus intravenous 5-fluorouracil administration on epidermal squamous cell carcinoma in sheep.

ABSTRACT

Clinical evidence that intra-arterial chemotherapy is more effective in regressing head and neck cancers than equivalent intravenous doses is lacking. Intra-arterial versus intravenous 5-fluorouracil infusion was compared in a naturally occurring, auricular epidermal squamous cell cancer in sheep. Of 18 lesions infused intra-arterially and of 18 infused intravenously with the same dose, 39 and 11%, respectively responded objectively (over 50% regression); mean (S.E.) tumour volume reduction was 37(23) and 18(22)%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean tumour response and in numbers of tumours regressing by at least 40% of tumour volume (50% of intra-arterial treated tumours compared with 11% of intravenous treated lesions) after the 16 day total infusion time in favour of intra-arterial treatment. Technically, the intra-arterial route in this model was an improvement on previous small animal models. These findings lend support to the need for continuing clinical study of intra-arterial infusion.