Experimental maxillofacial arterial chemoembolization with encased-cisplatin ethylcellulose microspheres.

PURPOSE To compare chemoembolization with conventional chemotherapy and explore the possibility of chemoembolization in the oral and maxillofacial region using encased-anticancer-drug microspheres. METHOD Six mongrel dogs were divided into two equal groups, an experimental group undergoing maxillofacial arterial chemoembolization with cisplatin encased in ethylcellulose microspheres, and a control group undergoing the conventional chemotherapy with cisplatin. The peripheral venous cisplatin concentration and the cisplatin concentration at the local tissue were determined. RESULT The experiment showed a significant difference in the peripheral venous cisplatin concentration between the two groups and between the time period. There was also a significant interaction between groups and time. The peak concentration in the experimental group appeared 12 to 24 hours after chemoembolization. The peak concentration in the control group appeared immediately after the anticancer drug was infused. There was a significant difference in the concentration in the local tissue between the two groups, when all time periods were aggregated. CONCLUSION Compared with conventional chemotherapy, the maxillofacial arterial chemoembolization with cisplatin encased in ethylcellulose microspheres significantly decreases the cisplatin concentration in the peripheral venous circulation and increases the concentration in the local tissues, allowing for the possibility of target cancer therapy.