Chemotherapy in malignant gynecologic tumors using intraperitoneal catheter with a subcutaneous reservoir

: Malignant gynecologic tumors are liable to encourage intraperitoneal dissemination and liver metastasis. Using an implantable reservoir (R), we undertook intraperitoneal (ip) administration of CDDP (P) and etoposide (E). After the ip injection of 150 mg of P, 300 mg of E was diluted with 1,500 ml of saline solution through the R. P and E of the intraperitoneal fluid and blood were measured after the administration, and the therapeutic results were evaluated. The blood concentration of P and E reached peaks at 30-60 minutes and at about 4 hours, respectively, after administration. Detectable levels of both P and E were observed at up to 48 hours after administration. In the first treatment of patients who showed severe peritonitis carcinomatosa and high intraperitoneal levels of proteins, the transfer to blood of P from the peritoneal cavity was slow, but as the treatment progressed (second and third administrations) protein binding P decreased and peritoneal permeability improved. Both maximum blood P concentrations and the concentrations of free P were also increased 48 hours after administrations. The area under the curves (AUC) of the blood free P and E concentrations were 8.0 and 274.0 (microgram/ml x h), respectively, which were higher than those following intravenous administration. The results showed 3 CR and 6 PR. This ip regimen obtained a 64.3% response rate for measurable lesions. A patient in stage IV of ovarian cancer showed marked remission of a liver metastatic focus. Repeated ip administration through R proved to be effective by means of systemic therapy.