Use of 5-FU plus hyperbaric oxygen for treating malignant tumors: evaluation of antitumor effect and measurement of 5-FU in individual organs.

PURPOSE: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been shown to increase tumor radiosensitivity. Several reports indicate that it also increases sensitivity to alkylating agents, but other reports suggest that it may speed angiogenesis and tumor growth. To throw light on these questions, we investigated the effects of HBO and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), individually and in combination, on Sarcoma 180 implants in mice. METHODS: We administered 5-FU at a dose of 0.75 mg/mouse six times per week and HBO at 2 atm absolute pressure for 90 min six times per week, both 17 times in total. In combination treatment, HBO was administered immediately after 5-FU injection. RESULTS: Over the treatment period, tumor diameter increased 277.8% in the untreated control group, 244.1% in the group receiving HBO monotherapy, 182.7% in the group receiving 5-FU monotherapy, and 138.5% in the group receiving combination therapy. Concomitant HBO increased accumulation of 5-FU in the tumors, liver, and kidneys, but not in the brain, of recipient animals. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above results, we conclude that concomitant HBO enhances the effects of 5-FU.

[Evaluation of endoscopic pirarubicin-Lipiodol emulsion injection therapy for gastric cancer].

To investigate the effect on gastric cancer and metastatic lymph node, an emulsion made of pirarubicin and lipiodol mixture was injected around the lesion of the gastric cancer using gastrointestinal endoscopy. At the site of emulsion injection and lymph node, the concentration of the THP Lipiodol emulsion was enough despite injection more than 7 days before. This targeting therapy for metastatic lymph nodes was considered effective.

[Preoperative clinical evaluations of rectal cancer using rectal echo, X-ray CT and MR-CT].

In order to evaluate the depth of invasion and to determine the stage of rectal cancer, we have recently performed intra-rectal echo, X-ray CT and MR-CT preoperatively. Conventional approaches such as barium enema X-ray and colonofiberscope are not satisfactory to determine the depth of invasion of tumor and to detect adjacent metastatic lymphnodes. Intra-rectal echo can reveal rectal wall layers fairly well, which can be divided into five layers. Using this technique, we are able to determine the depth of invasion of rectal cancer. X-ray CT can demonstrate all the intra-pelvic organs and metastatic lymphnodes surrounding rectal tumor. Invasion to the neighboring organs such as urinary bladder, prostate, seminal vesicle and uterus can also be evaluated preoperatively. MR-CT is also helpful to determine the stage of rectal cancer before operations. Though the images of MR-CT are not so sharp, multi-directional slices of X-ray photographs can be taken by MR-CT and so furthermore evaluations of rectal tumor invasion and adjacent metastatic lymphnodes are possible. In addition, IR-image of MR-CT demonstrates the tumor site dramatically. In conclusion, using these three techniques we can evaluate preoperative clinical stages of rectal cancer and the best operative method can be determined preoperatively.