Experimental study of intra-arterial infusion of misonidazole

For the purpose of studying radiosensitizing effect of misonidazole (MISO) and mitomycin C(MMC), either of the two drugs was administered through a hepatic arterial catheter to rabbit liver with VX2 hepatoma, and 15 Gy external irradiation was given immediately after perfusion. The measurement of tumor size and histological examination were carried out one week after the treatment. The results show that intra-arterial infusion of microspheres 20-50 μm in diameter results in decrease of blood flow rate in liver, especially in liver tumor, and eventually in increase of regional drug concentration. On the evidence rom histological examination, external irradiation combined with MISO or MMC exhibits high efficacy though MISO may carry a better prognosis than with MMC. By intra-arterial infusion after arterial embolization MISO may find way into clinical use as the result of its neurotoxicity being decreased significantly by higher tumor/system ratio of drug concentration. The technique and method of this experimental study may be recommended for regional combined treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancer