Enhancement of the Cancer Chemotherapeutic Effect by Anticancer Agents in the Form of Fat Emulsion

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Abstract
Utilizing the lipid-absorbing ability of lymphatic capillaries, anticancer agents were given in the form of fat emulsion to deliver them to regional lymph nodes. The emulsion, in which the drug solution is contained as the innermost phase, yielded high drug concentration in the lymphatic system. Intratumoral injection of emulsified anticancer agent resulted in significantly prolonged retension of the drug within the tumor tissue. Therapeutic experiments of the emulsion also disclosed remarkable tumor reduction and cure rate as compared with aqueous solution of drugs. Oral administration of emulsified 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was also attempted for stomach cancer. With 5-FU, the maximum concentration of drug in thoracic lymph and stomach was greater when administered as an emulsion than as an aqueous solution, and a high concentration persisted longer. As a clinical trial of the emulsion method, 8 patients with inoperable malignant growth with injected locally with emulsified anticancer agents and 121 patients were given 5-FU emulsion orally. The clinical and histological findings, indicated that the emulsion enhanced the chemotherapeutic effect of the anticancer agent on lymph node metastasis.