Sodium hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose-based bioresorbable membrane (seprafilm™)—Does it affect tumor implantation at abdominal wound sites?

PURPOSE: This study examines the effects of a sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm™) on tumor implantation at surgical wound and laparoscopic trocar sites. METHODS: GW-39, an established human colon cancer line carried in immunocompetent golden Syrian hamsters was used as the experimental model. Under general anesthesia, a 2-cm midline incision was made to allow placement of four 5-mm abdominal trocars. Hamsters were then randomly assigned to preSeprafilm™, postSeprafilm™, and control (no Seprafilm™) groups. In the preSeprafilm™ group 0.5 ml of a 5 percent (vol/vol) suspension of the GW-39 tumor cells (∼1.675 × 106 cells) was injected into the abdomen of each hamstervia midline incision. Trocars were removed, the wounds were closed, and 1 cm2 of Seprafilm™ was placed on the peritoneal surface of each trocar site. In the postSeprafilm™ group the membrane was placed at each site before injection of tumor cells. The control group did not receive Seprafilm™. The animals were killed after seven weeks, and the abdominal wound sites were excised. Sites without gross tumor underwent histologic evaluation. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two animals were randomly assigned to the three groups. The preSeprafilm™ group had an 87 percent tumor implantation rate. The postSeprafilm™ group had a 90 percent tumor implantation rate. The control group had an 88 percent tumor implantation rate. Chi squared analysis demonstrated that these total tumor implant rates and mean tumor mass were similar at all wound sites and between groups. No toxicity was observed in any of the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm™) does not influence GW-39 human colon cancer implantation at abdominal wound sites in this hamster model.