IN-VIVO ACTIVITY OF BLEOMYCIN INCORPORATED WITH BIODEGRADABLE POLY-D,L-LACTIC ACID AND IMPLANTED IN THE MEDIASTINUM OF DOGS

The possible usefulness of bleomycin incorporated with biodegradable p oly-d, l-lactic acid (BLM-PLA) for targeting chemotherapy for esophage al cancer was studied in vivo. Local levels of BLM after administratio n were compared with those after injection of BLM-SOL, an aqueous solu tion of BLM. BLM-PLA or BLM-SOL was administered into the upper medias tinum under a right thoracotomy in 36 mongrel dogs. On days 10, 20, an d 30 after administration, connective tissues, lymph nodes, lung, live r, kidney, and spleen were removed, and BLM activity was measured. Hig h activity of BLM was detected for 30 days after BLM-PLA administratio n in both the connective tissues and the lymph nodes, compared with BL M-SOL administration. BLM activity was low in the other organs after B LM-PLA administration. BLM in the blood was significantly lower after administration of BLM-PLA than BLM-SOL. The results indicate that BLM- PLA may become a useful tool in targeting chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.