Abstract
Thirty-two patients with carcinomatous pleurisy were treated with intrapleural administration of adriamycin (A. D. R.) alone or the combination of A. D. R. with OK-432.
After the pleural fluid was aspirated as much as possible through a 17 gauge elaster, A. D. R. or A. D. R. plus OK-432 was instilled into the pleural space once a week.
Of the total 32 patients, 16 were subjected to infusion of 10-40 mg of A. D. R. and 16 patients to the injection of 20 mg of A. D. R. with 5KE of OK-432.
The former group comprised 12 patients with lung cander (8 adenocarcinoma, 2 squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 small cell carcinoma) and 1 each with mammary cancer, fibrosorcoma, multiple myeloma, and reticulosarcoma.
The latter group comprised 15 patients with lung cancer (3 squamous cell carcinoma, 9 adenocarcinoma, 2 small cell carcinoma, and 1 large cell carcinoma), and 1 ovarian cancer.
Of 16 patients treated with A. D. R. alone, 15 (93.8%) demonstrated cytolozically negative in the pleural fluid and the fluid was eliminated in 10 out of 16 patients (62.5%).
The mean total dose of A. D. R. administered until these effects were obtained was 59.3 mg and the mean period of time was 3.1 weeks.
Of the 16 patients the A. D. R. plus OK-432, 15 (93.8%) showed cytologically negative in the pleural fluid, and the fluid was eliminated in 12 (81.2%).
In this group the mean total dose of A. D. R. until the effects were obtained was 42.6mg and the mean period of time was 2.2 weeks.
In the latter group the mean total dose of A. D. R. was less and the period of time was shorter than those of the former group.
The A. D. R. instilled in the pleural space was maintained In more than 20% of the initial concentration immediately after the instillation with traces in the blood and urine after 24 hours. The side effects were minimal and there was no complication.
