The Effects on Liver Metastases of Circadian Patterned Continuous Hepatic Artery Infusion of FUDR

摘要

Although continuous hepatic artery infusions (CHAI) of (FUDR) Floxuridine have been effective inreducing the size of colorectal hepatic metastases the toxicity of the infusions have been high with almosta quarter of the patients developing biliary sclerosis. Techniques to lower toxicity, yet continue thebeneficial antitumor effects, are being investigated. One suggested strategy is to change the flow patternof the continuous infusion from a constant rate to a day cycled pattern. In this infusion a continuous rateis given over a 24 hour period with 60% of the infusion delivered between 3 PM and 9 PM and the leastamount of infusion delivered between 3 AM and 9 PM. Previous research has suggested that this daycycle pattern will lower the toxicity of the infusion. This experiment is a test of “day cycled” continuoushepatic artery infusions in rats bearing hepatic metastases from a colon adenocarcinoma. Previousresearch from our laboratory has shown a lowered toxicity when the constant infusion was replaced withthe day cycled pattern.