EFFECTS OF IN VIVO HYPERTHERMO-CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC PERFUSION OF THE NORMAL AND REGENERATING LIVER ON THE AMINOPYRINE BREATH TEST IN THE RATS

Abstract

The effect of isolated liver perfusion wit high doses of chemotherapeutic agents and hyperthermia on hepatic metabolizing capacity of [¹⁴C]-aminopyrine was assessed in the rat. The in vivo isolated liver, by itself, depressed the metabolizing capacity of aminopyrine significantly (p<0.05) even at 8 days after perfusion. The perfusion with 5-FU, Mit-c or hyperthermia (37°C-43°C) induced more remarkable suppression and these suppressive effects was dose- and temperature-dependent. Following the perfusion with higher doses of 5-FU and Mit-C or higher temperature (43°C) the metabolizing capacity was decreasing as days after perfusion go on. Serum GOT and GPT values following perfusion elevated considerably on 1 day post perfusion, but returned to normal by 5 days post perfusion.
The surgical removal of 2/3 of the liver decreased the metabolizng capacity to 55%. In fact, the aminopyrine breath test is closely associated with the liver mass. The pretreatment of the liver perfusion with 5-FU, Mit-C and hyperthermia before partial hepatectomy depressed the metabolizing capacity of aminopyrine more remarkably, 38%, 45% (p<0.01) and 34% (p<0.05). The recovery of depressed metabolizing capacity after partial hepatectomy was returned in the liver perfused with 5-FU, Mit-C and hyperthermia in comparison with sham perfusion. These results show that isolated liver perfusion with hyperthermochemotherapy should be performed with the special notice and some hepatoprotective or hepatotrophic agents for the treatment of extensive liver cancer and as adjuvant therapy prior to hepatic resection.