LIPOSOME-ENCAPSULATED DOXORUBICIN TRANSFER TO THE PELVIC LYMPH-NODES BY ENDOSCOPIC ADMINISTRATION INTO THE BLADDER WALL - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Purpose: Liposome encapsulated doxorubicin administered to the pelvic lymph nodes might be effective against pelvic node metastasis. We dete rmined whether the drug can be delivered to the nodes via the bladder wall. Materials and Methods: Ten patients underwent endoscopic adminis tration of 10 mg. liposomal doxorubicin into the bladder wall 3 days b efore cystectomy. The concentration of doxorubicin in the pelvic lymph nodes obtained at operation was measured. Results: No complication de veloped after drug administration. Almost all lymph nodes examined con tained more than 100 ng./gm. doxorubicin (median 1,860). Conclusions: Endoscopic administration of liposomal doxorubicin into the bladder wa ll may be an alternative method to deliver doxorubicin to the pelvic l ymph nodes.