Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid (LUF), a contrast medium for the diagnosis and treatme
nt of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is used by hepatic intra-arterial inf
usion. Hepatoma cells nit capable of active uptake of LUF and retaining it
for prolonged periods of time. These characteristics have important therape
utic potential for the targeting of anticancer drugs and have lead us to fo
rm an intratumoral diffuser. But, before in vivo studies, we have investiga
ted in vitro LUF effects on various cell species in order to explain and re
fine the lipiodol chemotherapy. The antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects
of LUF on HepG2 (human hepatoma cells), MCF-7 (human breast cancer cells),
murine macrophages and human hepatocytes, were assessed by Trypan blue exc
lusion and lactico-deshydrogenase extracellular tests. We demonstrated the
dose and time-dependent antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of LUF o
n cells. Cytotoxicity was different according to cells species, whether or
not they had cancerous characteristics and phagocytosis function: this cyto
toxicity was very significant on macrophages and was greater. for cancerous
cells than for human hepatocytes in primary culture. We showed in vitro, f
or the first time, that LUF was an antiproliferative and cytotoxic agent, b
ecause of its active uptake and selective retention which lead to cellular
death due to necrosis by lipoperoxidation increase.