Masaoki Harada

Arterial chemoembolization with mitomycin C microcapsules in the treatment of primary or secondary carcinoma of the kidney, liver, bone and intrapelvic organs

Selective intraarterial infusion of the ethylcellulose microcapsules of mitomycin C (MMC‐mc) exerts its potential therapeutic effects through both infarction and prolonged local drug activity, i.e., chemoembolization. Twenty patients with intractable primary, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma were treated with single or fractionated infusion of MMC‐mc via percutaneous arterial catheterization. The target sites were the kidney, liver, prostate, urinary bladder, uterus, sigmoid colon, Douglas pouch and bone. Fourteen patients had over 30% reduction in measurable maximum tumor diameter, 5 had 10 to 30% reduction and 1 showed less than 10% reduction, but concurrent 2 bone lesions had no reduction. Improvement of symptoms and signs such as pain, massive hemorrhage, dysuria, anorexia and hydronephrosis was observed at an early stage of the treatment in all patients. Eight patients with highly invasive carcinoma of the kidney, urinary bladder and cervix were initially treated with MMC‐mc followed by successful radical operation. Systemic toxicity was mild and all patients tolerated the treatment. Although the follow‐up periods are less than 21 months, 12 patients are alive with or without tumor and 11 of them are doing well. The present results indicate that chemoembolization with MMC‐mc is effective as a preoperative or palliative measure in the treatment of invasive carcinoma of various organs.

Magnetic microcapsules for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs

To achieve targeted distribution of anticancer drugs with sustained activity, ferromagnetic ethylcellulose microcapsules containing an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (FM-MMC-mc), were prepared by a method based on phase separation principles. Two prototypes of FM-MMC-mc were made: one with the drug as the core and zinc ferrite on its capsular surface (outer type); the other with both the drug and zinc ferrite as the core (inner type). Both preparations provided a sustained-release property and a sensitive response to conventional magnetic force, although certain differences in the release rate of drug, magnetic responsiveness, and particle size were found between the two dosage forms. Animal studies showed that the magnetic microcapsules could be magnetically controlled in the artery and urinary bladder. VX2 tumors in the rabbit hind limb and urinary bladder were successfully treated with magnetic control of FM-MMC-mc. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that the targeting of the microcapsules markedly enhanced the drug absorption into the surrounding tissues for a prolonged period of time. The results indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of the magnetic microcapsules as a targeted drug delivery system.

Mass screening for urinary tract cancer with urine cytology

SummaryA rapid and simple cytologic screening technique for fresh urine specimens stained with toluidine blue is described. As to the validity and description of cell structure, the accuracy of urine cytology with this procedure is very similar to that of the Papanicolaou technique. Utilizing this technique, a hospital population was screened for urinary tract cancer from specimens sent for routine urinalysis. In this study of 16,062 fresh urine sediments selected at random from nonurologic patients, a total of three cases of histologically proven bladder cancer were detected, corresponding to a rate of one bladder cancer in 5,000 individuals. The results emphasize the usefulness of this simple screening technique in combination with clinical urinalysis and cytology for early detection of urinary tract malignancy.