EFFECT OF ARTERIAL ADMINISTRATION OF A HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT ANTITUMOR AGENT, STYRENE-MALEIC ACID NEOCARZINOSTATIN, FOR MULTIPLE SMALL LIVER-CANCER - A PILOT-STUDY

To assess the efficacy of the zinostatin derivative, the anti-tumor ag ent, styrene-maleic acid neocarzinostatin, in treating multiple small liver cancers, 29 patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma of 3 cm or less in diameter were treated with intraarterial injections of this high molecular weight agent, mixed with Lipiodol. Computed tomogr aphy 3 months after the first therapy showed complete deposition of Li piodol in the entire area of the original tumor in 8 patients (27.6%), 50%-99% deposition in 4 (13.8%), 10%-49% in 10 (34.5%), and less than 10% in 7 (24.1%). After repeated injections, Lipiodol deposition in t he entire area of the original tumor was found in 11 patients (37.9%). The degree of Lipiodol deposition depended on the angiographic vascul arity of the tumor and on the images of the computed tomogram during a rterial portography. Although complete deposition of Lipiodol was foun d in all tumors in 10 (58.8%) of the 17 patients with well demarcated round hypervascularity, only 1 (8.3%) of 12 patients with ill demarcat ed tumors showed complete deposition of Lipiodol in the tumors. Taking into account that hypervascularity on angiograms was closely correlat ed with the degree of Lipiodol accumulation on computed tomograms take n later, it appears that well demarcated round-shaped liver cancer is the best candidate for styrene-maleic acid neocarzinostatin therapy.