Trial of a treatment for lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer using aclarubicin bound to activated carbon particles

A new dosage formulation (ACR-CH), composed of aclarubicin (ACR) bound to fine activated carbon particles, was developed for the treatment of lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer. In a mice experimental model, ACR-CH had superior therapeutic effects on lymph node metastases compared to the same dose of ACR aqueous solution. In clinical trials, patients with breast cancer received a local injection of 10 mg/person of ACR in the form of ACR-CH or ACR aqueous solution just before mastectomy. In the regional lymph nodes removed by the operation, the ACR concentration of 40.7 micrograms/g in patients given ACR-CH was higher than the 25.1 micrograms/g in patients given ACR aqueous solution, whereas in blood plasma the concentration was higher in patients given ACR aqueous solution than in those given ACR-CH.