[5-FU concentration in the tissue of gastric cancer, and evaluation of cancer chemotherapy with angiotensin-II]

Abstract

A preferable route for administration of anti-cancer drugs together with angiotensin-II (AT-II) was examined by measuring the tissue concentration of drugs in resected specimens. Twenty five patients with gastric cancer were randomly divided into five groups, and 5-FU (250 mg) was given with or without AT-II intraoperatively. Group A; i.v. 5-FU alone (n = 5), Group B; i.v. 5-FU with AT-II (n = 5), Group C; i.a. 5-FU alone (n = 5), Group D; i.a. 5-FU with i.v. AT-II (n = 5) and Group E; i.a. 5-FU with AT-II (n = 5). 5-FU level in regional lymph nodes was statistically higher in Group D compared to other groups, while in tumor tissues it was markedly higher in Group E. The ratio of 5-FU level in tumor tissues to normal tissues (T/N) was higher in Groups D and E. In patients with advanced malignancies, response rates were 17% in i.v. anti-cancer drugs with AT-II group, 41% in i.a. anti-cancer drugs with i.v. AT-II group and 24% in i.a. anti-cancer drugs with AT-II group. Median survival time for each group were 6.3 months, 9.6 months and 14.2 months, respectively. It is concluded that intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy together with AT-II can be an effective treatment for advanced malignancies.