Improved results in the adjuvant and therapeutic treatment of
colon cancer has led to renewed interest in the role of
adjuvant chemotherapy following liver resection for colorectal hepatic
metastases. However, little is known about the most effective method or timing of delivery of
adjuvant chemotherapy. Sixty-nine BD-IX rats underwent a right hepatic lobectomy following tumour inoculation via a splenic injection of 10(7) K12/TRb
colon cancer cells. The rats were then randomized to receive systemic
FUdR (1 mg kg-1 d-1 for 7 d) or regional (hepatic artery or portal vein)
FUdR (2 mg kg-1 d-1 for 7 d) immediately or 72 h following tumour injection. On Day 28, a laprotomy was performed, and tumour nodules in the liver were counted. The animals were followed to death, and at autopsy the cause of death from hepatic or extrahepatic
metastases was determined. All methods of
FUdR infusion were superior to no treatment. Immediate portal vein (PV)
FUdR infusion delayed the appearance of hepatic tumour (P = 0.003), changed the cause of death from hepatic to extrahepatic disease (P = 0.019), and prolonged survival (P < 0.05). Infusion of
FUdR via the PV 72 h later did not delay the appearance of hepatic tumours nor prolong survival. In contrast, delayed HA
FUdR infusion controlled hepatic
metastases (P = 0.04) and improved survival (P < 0.05).