[Efficacy of hepatic arterial and intraportal infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer].

We evaluated the effect of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) and intraportal infusion chemotherapy (IPI) for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. Since 1980, 89 patients with colorectal cancer showed liver metastasis. Seven of these cases had undergone curative resection of colon tumor and hepatectomy (5 cases with HAI). Eleven cases had undergone colon tumor resection and HAI. Among the former, 3 cases with HAI are alive, and the postoperative survival rate after 2 years improved among the latter. Curative removal was carried out in 567 patients in the same period. Recurrence of liver metastasis was observed in 30 cases, in 13 cases of which hepatectomy with HAI was performed, with HAI only in another 9 cases. The three-year survival rate among the former was 41.1% and the one-year survival rate of the latter was 16.2%. From 1986 to 1988, we performed IPI in 24 cases of colorectal cancer to prevent liver metastasis. They had undergone curative resection. Recurrence of liver metastasis was observed in one case (4.2%), which was less than in the control group (9.3%). It is concluded that HAI and IPI are effective treatment for liver metastasis in colorectal cancer.

[Clinical effects of Juzendaiho-to on immunologic and fatty metabolic states in postoperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer].

Juzen-daiho-to is one of the Chinese traditional medicines which is usually applied with patients suffering from anemia or chronic exhaustive disease. Twenty-three patients after gastrectomy and 16 patients after colectomy were studied for NK cell activity, blastogenesis by PHA, several T-lymphocyte subsets, serum triglyceride and serum lipo-protein before drug administration at one, three, six, nine months and one year after the start of drug administration respectively. A remarkable elevation in NK cell activity was noted 3 and 6 months after the drug administration. Statistical analysis shows a significant converse correlation between NK cell activity and lipo-protein value in the group given Juzendaiho-to.

[Moderate dose methotrexate with citrovorum factor rescue therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer].

A clinical trial of moderate dose methotrexate (MTX)-CF rescue was conducted in 12 institutions. Thirty-seven patients with head and neck carcinoma entered this trial, of which 32 were evaluable. MTX was administered 350 mg/m2 (500 mg/body) by i.v. drip over 6 hours. Three hours after completion of MTX infusion, CF rescue was started. There was no complete response in 32 patients. Nine patients showed partial response with the response rate of 28%. The response rates were 21% for the group of patients treated previously, and 75% for the group untreated previously. MTX concentration in plasma was determined at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the initiation of MTX infusion, and the assay results revealed a safe range. GI disturbances were seen at the rates of 11 to 38%. Bone marrow suppression was mild and no renal toxicity was observed. We concluded that the moderate dose MTX-CF rescue therapy was useful for head and neck carcinoma. As a next step, we are planning to conduct a clinical trial of high-dose MTX.

[Effect of levamisole in postoperative adjuvant immunochemotherapy of stomach cancer--randomized controlled study of MMC-5-FU combination therapy with or without levamisole. 1].

A randomized controlled study by envelope method was carried out with the purpose of evaluating effects and side effects of levamisole in patients with resectable stomach cancer. The patients were randomly allocated to the treatment either with control or levamisole according to the indication of the envelope opened at least 3 days prior to surgery. The control group was treated with Mitomycin C (day 0, 20 mg day 1, 10 mg, one shot i.v.) and 5-FU(150 mg/day, p.o.). The levamisole group was treated with Mitomycin C, 5-FU and levamisole. Levamisole was administered at a daily dose of 150 mg for 3 consecutive days before surgery, and the 3 consecutive days administration schedule was repeated every fortnight for one year after surgery. Four hundred and forty-six patients were entered in this trial. However, with the exclusion of 104 patients as exceptions and dropouts, the total eligible patients were 342, consisting of 167 in the control group and 175 in the levamisole group. The effects were evaluated by comparing the disease-free interval or the survival time of both groups. There was no significant difference in the disease-free interval and survival. In this study, we have not yet reached the conclusion that levamisole is effective in prolonging disease-free interval and survival time, because high survival rates are still maintained in both groups for 2 years after surgery. The final conclusion would be drawn with the follow-up results in the future.

Short-term cultivation of human mammary tumors and normal mammary glands in medium containing human colostrum milk.

A short-term cultivation of human mammary tumors and normal mammary glands was attempted in order to establish a reproducible method for their cultivation. Epithelial cells could be cultivated consistently by the use of collagenase for tissue dissociation and the addition of insulin, human colostrum milk and cholera toxin to the culture medium. Human colostrum milk seemed to be a good additive for the growth of mammary epithelial cells but not for that of fibroblastic cells.