To obtain a more possible effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and gradually-releasing of cisplatin and epirubicin, we have tried to develop a new cisplatin-epirubicin-lipiodol suspension (CELS), using phosphatidylcholine as a coupling agent. Cisplatin and epirubicin were gradually released from CELS in vitro and passed gradually into systemic circulation after injection hepatic artery in vivo. Ten patients with HCC were treated with CELS therapy. Immediately, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and abnormal prothrornbin (PIVKA-II) levels were decreased. On most of 10 patients, no fatal side effects were observed. No survival ratio was estimated because of short term prognosis. It seems that the combination therapy with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was more effective. This result suggests that CELS accumulates in the carcinoma tissue, and gradually releases the two drugs. It concludes that GELS therapy in safe and more effective compared with cisplatin suspended in lipiodol therapy for HCC.
