Abstract:

Objective To develop a percutaneous method of administering drugs into the brain in order to suppress glioma growth. Method Sprague-Dawley rats were injected in the brain with 0.9% NaCl solution through a direct adapter implanted under the skin and a thin tube jacketed with an ice sleeve，while rats with brain gliomas received 0.9% NaCl solution， aqueous adriamycin or ADR liposomes through a thin tube wrapped in an ice sleeve attached to a device implanted under the skin. The injections were repeated 5 and 10 d later. Starting at 4 d after the last injection，tumor volume and serum concen-trations of alanine aminotransferase（ALT），aspartate aminotransferase（AST），and creatinine（Cr）were measured in 8 animals from the saline control group，aqueous ADR group and ADR liposome group. The remaining animals in each group were implanted with tubes but not administered drug or saline in order to assess survival following surgery. Results By 14 d after the last injection，tumor volume was significantly smaller in the ADR liposome group （27.5±6.4） mm³ than in the saline control group（57.5±6.3） mm³（P<0.05）. Tumor growth inhibition was significantly greater in the ADR liposome group（52.2±14.6）% than in the aqueous ADR group（27.7±9.5）%（P<0.05），and mean survival was significantly longer in the ADR liposome group（42.3±8.2） d vs （29.9±4.8） d（P<0.05）. Serum concentrations of ALT，AST，Cr were similar between both ADR groups and the saline control group（P>0.05）. All rats in the control group survived more than 50 d. Conclusion It is possible to safely and effectively implant a percutaneous drug delivery system through a puncture in the brain. This system，comprising a thin polyester tube with an ice sleeve and metal core，was able to administer ADR to significantly suppress tumor grouth in rats without obvious side effects on liver or kidney function.

Key words: Brain neoplasm, Adriamycin, Liposome, Adapter, Percutaneous injection, Therapy