Percutaneous injection of a low-concentration alkaline solution targeting hepatocellular carcinoma

We developed a percutaneous low-concentration alkali injection therapy (PLA IT) targeting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and compared the necrotic are as in the livers of rats that had received PLAIT [an alkaline solution of s odium hydroxide (NaOH)] with those that had received percutaneous ethanol i njection therapy (PEIT) and percutaneous acetic acid injection therapy (PAI T). The necrotic area increased with increasing concentrations of NaOH solu tion. The survival rate of rats was 100% up to a concentration of 4 N; howe ver, the rate dropped below 80% with concentrations over 5 N. Also, at a co ncentration of 2 N, the necrotic area increased with increasing quantities from 0.01 ml to 0.1 ml. PLAIT using 0.05 ml of 2 N NaOH was 1.56 times more effective than PEIT using 0.05 mi of 99.5% ethanol, and 63.33% less effect ive than PAIT using 0.05 ml of 50% acetic acid. However, the survival rate after PAIT was 50%, while that after PLAIT was 100%. Histopathological obse rvation of normal rat livers after injection of 2 N NaOH at a volume of 0.0 5 ml showed that the tissue necrosis spread radially from the site immediat ely after injection by PLAIT, but necroses were not found in other organs. We conclude that PLAIT has promise as a new form of local therapy for HCC.