Treatment of Malignant Pelvic Tumors by Extracorporeal Perfusion with Chemotherapeutic Agents

Abstract

AN important limitation to intravenous systemic use of nitrogen mustard and allied compounds has been the toxicity of the drugs to the normal tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and hematopoietic system.¹ Doses within the limits of systemic tolerance are often without tumorocidal effect, and larger doses may cause systemic toxicity hazardous to life. Direct intra-arterial administration of nitrogen mustard produces high local tumorocidal levels but does not entirely eliminate systemic toxicity² and is frequently associated with severe local reaction and vascular thrombosis.^{3 , 4} By isolating the circulation of a region bearing a tumor and perfusing it by a method utilizing an . . .