EFFECTS OF DOXORUBICIN AND OR CILOSTAZOL ON CANCER-CELLS DURING LIVER-REGENERATION AFTER 2/3 HEPATECTOMY IN RATS/

A rat model of liver metastases generated by intraportal injection of syngeneic tumor cells after two-thirds hepatectomy to determine the op timal benefit of doxorubicin and/or cilostazol for early hepatic metas tases. Four groups of WKA rats had viable tumor cells injected directl y into the portal vein after two-thirds hepatectomy. Group A underwent to further treatment. Group B had doxorubicin injected 24 h post-oper atively. Group C had cilostazol administered prior to two-thirds hepat ectomy. Group D received cilostazol, and doxorubicin injections. The m ean survival period in each group was 22.2, 20.0, 28.8, and 22.8 days, respectively. The mean survival was significantly longer in group C t han in groups A, B and D (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we belie ve that during the phase of liver regeneration adjuvant chemotherapy i s not recommended. Cilostazol exerts an important antiproliferative ef fect on liver metastases after hepatectomy.