THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF 5-FLUOROURACIL MICROSPHERES ON PERITONEAL CARCINOMATOSIS INDUCED BY COLON-26 OR B-16 MELANOMA IN MICE

The delivery formulation 5-FU-MS [5-fluorouracil (5-FU) incorporated i n microspheres composed of a poly(glycolide-co-lactide) matrix] slowly releases 5-FU over 3 weeks. 5-FU-MS delivers higher concentrations of the drug to the i.p. tissues for a longer period of time with lower b lood plasma concentrations than does an aqueous 5-FU solution and redu ces toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of 5 -FU-MS on peritoneal carcinomatosis in mice. Four days after an i.p. i noculation with Colon 26 or B-16 PC melanoma, 5-FU at 200 mg/kg was ad ministered i.p. as 5-FU-MS or as an aqueous solution of 5-FU. 5-FU-MS extended the survival of mice bearing Colon 26 or B-16 PC melanoma sig nificantly better than the equivalent dose of aqueous 5-FU solution. [ (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.].