Prevention of anastomotic tumour take by on-table colon washout with povidone-iodine. an experimental study in rats

Selection of irrigation fluid to eradicate free cancer cells during head and neck cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Free cancer cells can be spilled out from exposed tumors or ruptured tumors. We examined the cytocidal effect of various irrigation fluids on free cancer cells in an animal wound model mimicking head and neck surgery.

METHODS

Cancer cell-contaminated wounds were made with C3H/HeJ mice and syngeneic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC VII) cells. Distilled water, 5% povidone-iodine, 1.5% H(2)O(2), normal saline, and cisplatin were used to irrigate for 5 minutes. In vitro tumor growth assays were done with different concentrations and exposure times of povidone-iodine and distilled water.

RESULTS

In the animal study, povidone-iodine significantly inhibited tumor growth. Povidone-iodine caused substantial inhibition of in vitro tumor growth, even at the concentration of 0.05%. After 30 seconds of exposure to 1% povidone-iodine, cancer cells were completely inhibited.

CONCLUSIONS

Povidone-iodine could be selected preferentially for the irrigation fluid during head and neck surgery, especially when the wound is suspected of cancer cell contamination.

Efeitos da injeção de solução bicarbonatada de ácido acetilsalicílico em mucosa colorretal de coelhos, com vistas a aplicação no preparo pré-operatório do cólon

INTRODUÇÃO: A recidiva local no câncer colorretal tem como principal causa o implante de células tumorais nas anastomoses. 11-15 Dessa maneira, lavagem química do lúmen intestinal é preconizada para evitar tanto o implante quanto à recidiva local. 11-28 Em estudos prévios constatamos que a solução bicarbonatada de ácido acetilsalicílico tem efeitos citolíticos e anti-tumorais in-vitro.31 OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a toxicidade da solução de aspirina na mucosa colônica de coelhos com o objetivo de usá-la no preparo intestinal de portadores de câncer colorretal. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 20 coelhos. Um clampe vascular foi colocado acima do cólon sigmóide. Os animais foram submetidos a um enema com 50 ml da solução de aspirina ou soro fisiológico de acordo com o grupo. Os animais foram sacrificados ao término do procedimento ou tardiamente de acordo com o grupo. RESULTADOS: A solução de aspirina não altera a mucosa colônica de coelhos. CONCLUSÃO: O uso da solução bicarbonatada de ácido acetilsalicílico no preparo intestinal de portadores de câncer colorretal é clinicamente possível.

Rectal washout with cytotoxic solution can be extended to the whole colon

BACKGROUND

Rectal irrigation with a cytotoxic agent does not kill viable intraluminal cancer cells proximal to the primary tumour. To prevent implantation of these cells at the time of restorative proctectomy, the feasibility of retrograde whole-colon irrigation just before surgery was explored.

METHODS

The cytotoxic efficacy of different combinations of povidone-iodine (PVPI) and Gastrografin was tested with the trypan blue exclusion test on a human colon carcinoma cell line (SW620) in vitro. Subsequently, a retrograde whole-colon lavage with PVPI 5 per cent and Gastrografin 12 per cent was performed in 14 euthyroid, non-allergic patients with colorectal cancer using a colostomy irrigation set. Thyroid function and mucosal damage were assessed.

RESULTS

It took 2 min and approximately 1 litre of infused solution to reach the caecum in all patients. The solution was 100 per cent tumoricidal in vitro and remained so after colonic irrigation. Total serum tri-iodothyronine (T3) levels decreased and those of reverse T3 increased, but normalized after 1 week. Superficial epithelial desquamation was observed shortly after irrigation; however, complete restoration occurred within 7 days.

CONCLUSION

A rectal washout can easily be extended to a retrograde irrigation of the whole colon in elective colorectal cancer surgery. This may help to prevent anastomotic and local recurrence due to implantation of viable exfoliated tumour cells.

An experimental evaluation of three preoperative radiation regimens for resectable rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

We investigated the degree of tumor cell killing after radiotherapy regimens commonly used in clinical practice in comparison with an accelerated schedule.

METHODS

Mtln3 mammary adenocarcinoma tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the hind leg of syngeneic Fischer 344 rats. Tumors were irradiated with 5 x 5 Gy in 5 days, 10 x 3 Gy over 10 days, or 5 x (2 x 3) Gy in 5 days. After excision of the irradiated tumors, the dye exclusion, a tetrazolium-based colorimetric and the clonogenic assays were used to determine tumor cell viability and surviving fractions.

RESULTS

Estimated potential doubling time values indicate a rapid proliferation capacity, comparable with potential doubling time values in human rectal cancer. The dye exclusion and clonogenic assays revealed a significantly higher degree of cell killing after the hypofractionated and the accelerated regimens of, respectively, 5 x 5 Gy and 5 x (2 x 3) Gy over 5 days compared with 10 x 3 Gy over 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

A shorter treatment time offered the best therapeutic efficacy. The schedule involving two daily fractions of 3 Gy over 5 days should be less toxic than 5 x 5 Gy and may therefore provide a therapeutic advantage.

Limitations of peritoneal lavage with antiseptics in prevention of recurrent colorectal cancer caused by tumor-cell seeding: experimental study in rats

PURPOSE

Exfoliated or soiled free malignant cells have serious consequences in patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The present study evaluates the toxicity and efficacy of cytotoxic agents in the prevention of cell seeding and tumor growth in the peritoneal cavity in an experimental model.

METHODS

Mtln3 adenocarcinoma cell viability was tested in vitro using the trypan blue exclusion test after incubation with povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine. In vivo, Fischer rats were inoculated with 10(5) or 10(6) cells followed by peritoneal lavage with physiological saline, chlorhexidine 0.02 percent, povidone-iodine low molecular weight 1 percent or povidone-iodine high molecular weight 1 and 2 percent in different quantities and incubation times.

RESULTS

Chlorhexidine 0.02 percent and povidone-iodine low molecular weight 1 percent or high molecular weight 2 percent, killed over 98 percent of 10(5) or 10(6) tumor cells in vitro. Povidone-iodine low molecular weight 1 percent and high molecular weight 2 percent were toxic and lethal when 5 ml were applied in the peritoneal cavity three times for five minutes. Chlorhexidine 0.02 percent applied after inoculation of 10(5) or 10(6) cells, reduced the tumor development only to 70 and 80 percent. Application of 5 ml povidone-iodine 1 percent low molecular weight or high molecular weight, three times for one and five minutes, after inoculation of 10(6) cells did not change the tumor take. However, inhibition of Mtln3 cells to form metastases was observed. When povidone-iodine low molecular weight 1 percent was used three times for one minute after 10(5) tumor cells were "soiled", no toxicity was observed and the tumor take was reduced to 30 percent (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Povidone-iodine toxicity proved to be a major issue in vivo. However, povidone-iodine low molecular weight 1 percent was safe when used for short periods and very effective when a limited number of tumor cells was inoculated. The use of cytotoxic agents to prevent recurrent disease caused by tumor cell seeding in patients seems to make sense only when the "inoculum size" of exfoliated or soiled cancer cells is limited.