Chemocoagulation of metastatic lymph nodes using a suspension of mitomycin C-adsorbing activated carbon particles in 80% ethanol.
Chemocoagulation therapy was evaluated in an experimental model of metastasis of murine lymph nodes following injection of a suspension of mitomycin C--containing activated carbon particles in 80% ethanol (MMC-CH-ET) into the popliteal lymph node. Lymph node metastasis was induced in the left popliteal and the lumbar lymph nodes 8 days after injection of mouse leukemia P388 cells into the footpad of the left hindleg of BDF1 mice. When MMC-CH-ET was injected into the left popliteal lymph node, it immediately left this site and entered the lumbar lymph node via lymphatic vessels. When compared with tissue concentrations of mitomycin C following injection of an aqueous solution of this drug, the mitomycin C concentration of MMC-CH-ET was maintained at significantly higher levels for 2 hr following injection both at the site of injection and at secondary lymph nodes. Furthermore, coagulative necrosis was identified histologically throughout the injected lymph node and the secondary lymph node, including the metastatic site. The mortality of mice treated with MMC-CH-ET injection was significantly reduced and lymph node metastasis was controlled with MMC-CH-ET when compared with the results for mice treated with an aqueous solution of mitomycin C or treated by surgical lymph node dissection. In this report, we suggest that the use of MMC-CH-ET as a therapeutic agent may be useful in targeting lymph node metastasis.