ENDOSCOPIC LOCAL INJECTION OF A NEW DRUG-DELIVERY FORMAT OF PEPLOMYCIN FOR SUPERFICIAL ESOPHAGEAL CANCER - A PILOT-STUDY

Background: A new drug-delivery format comprising activated carbon particles adsorbing peplomycin (PEP-CH) was developed for the treatment of superficial esophageal cancer. Methods: The drug distribution was measured in rats that received subcutaneous injections of PEP-CH or peplomycin aqueous solution. In 6 patients with superficial esophageal cancer, peplomycin as PEP-CH, 5-10 mg once a week for 4-10 weeks (total, 40-100 mg/patient) was injected endoscopically into primary lesions. Results: Rats given PEP-CH had significantly higher peplomycin levels in the regional lymph nodes and the injection site than rats given aqueous solution. Five patients have survived to the present or died without cancer after 27-72 months. The remaining patient has survived without cancer for 8 months after a second course of PEP-CH against recurrence. Conclusions: PEP-CH therapy seems to have a good therapeutic effect on superficial esophageal cancer, although the present clinical study may have been biased by patient selection. © 1993.