Comparison of blood dynamics of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, mitomycin C, epirubicin) in treatment groups of hepatic arterial infusion, hepatic arterial infusion with lipiodol and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with lipiodol plus gelatin sponge particles in a swine model

Aim: To compare the blood dynamics of anticancer drugs (cisplatin, mitomycin, epirubicin) and the negative effect on normal liver tissue among the following procedures: hepatic arterial infusion (HAI), HAI with lipiodol (Lp-HAI) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with Lp plus particles (Lp-TACE). Methods: Nine swine were divided into three groups: (i) HAI group animals were infused with 5 mg/mL cisplatin, 1 mg/mL mitomycin and 4 mg/mL epirubicin in 0.1 mL/kg contrast medium; (ii) Lp-HAI group animals, with the same doses in 0.1 mL emulsified fluid (0.05 mL/kg, Lp); and (iii) Lp-TACE group animals, with the same doses in 0.1 mL emulsified fluid plus gelatin sponge particles. Outflow ratio (area under plasma concentration curve [AUC060] / total infused dose of anticancer drug) and necrosis volume ratio (necrosis volume / total slice volume x 100) were explored. Results: Outflow ratios (AUC060/mg) of cisplatin, mitomycin and epirubicin, and the necrosis volume ratio (%) of the livers, were 2.30, 6.91, 0.97 and 0, respectively, in the HAI group; 1.71, 5.43, 0.79 and 1.37, respectively, in the Lp-HAI group; and 1.23, 3.37, 0.47 and 20.88, respectively, in the Lp-TACE group. The significantly lowest outflow ratio for each anticancer drug (P = 0.05/3) and the significantly highest necrosis volume ratio (P = 0.05/3) were found in Lp-TACE, followed by Lp-HAI and HAI. Conclusion: Although the necrosis volume ratio of the liver was tolerable, Lp-TACE caused the greatest delay in outflow ratio for each cancer drug and the greatest negative effect to liver in a swine model.