Increased intratumor concentration of fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled neocarzinostatin in rats under angiotensin-induced hypertension.

On the basis of the observation that the tumor tissue blood flow selectively increases under angiotensin (AT)-induced hypertension, the change of the drug concentration in the tumor and normal tissues was examined in male Donryu rats. The intratumor concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled neocarzinostatin was about 2-fold higher in the AT-induced hypertension group than in the control up to 20 min after the drug injection. In the normal organs or the uninvolved organs of the tumor-bearing rats, however, no clear increase was seen in the experimental group compared with the control, as anticipated from the observation of the tissue blood flow. The present study supports the hypothesis that the enhanced anticancer effect in chemotherapy under AT-induced hypertension formerly reported is due to the tumor-selective enhancement of the drug delivery.