Effects of doxorubicin and/or cilostazol on cancer cells during liver regeneration after two-thirds hepatectomy in rats.

A rat model of liver metastases generated by intraportal injection of syngeneic tumor cells after two-thirds hepatectomy to determine the optimal benefit of doxorubicin and/or cilostazol for early hepatic metastases. Four groups of WKA rats had viable tumor cells injected directly into the portal vein after two-thirds hepatectomy. Group A underwent to further treatment. Group B had doxorubicin injected 24 h post-operatively. Group C had cilostazol administered prior to two-thirds hepatectomy. Group D received cilostazol, and doxorubicin injections. The mean survival period in each group was 22.2, 20.0, 28.8, and 22.8 days, respectively. The mean survival was significantly longer in group C than in groups A, B and D (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we believe that during the phase of liver regeneration adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended. Cilostazol exerts an important antiproliferative effect on liver metastases after hepatectomy.