The significance of
maintenance chemotherapy after surgery for
ovarian cancer was examined using a human
tumor-nude mouse system. Experiment 1: The human
yolk sac tumor of the ovary (YST-2) heterotransplanted into nude mice was used. The
tumor-bearing mice were administered 100 mg/kg of
1-Hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (
HCFU) orally for 60 days after
tumor resection. Control mice were given 0.1 ml 0.3%
methylcellulose after
tumor resection. When the
tumor was completely resected by surgery,
HCFU treatment succeeded in decreasing the recurrence rate of the
tumor, and in improving the survival rate of the host mice. However, when the macroscopic
tumor was left in the host mouse,
HCFU treatment did not affect either the recurrence rate of the
tumor or the survival rate. Experiment 2: The human poorly differentiated
adenocarcinoma of the ovary (OVA-2) heterotransplanted into nude mice was used. Administration of 100 mg/kg of
HCFU immediately after the heterotransplantation into nude mice for 60 days suppressed the
tumor growth.
HCFU treatment improved the survival rate of the
tumor-bearing mice. The antitumor effect of
HCFU on the OVA-2
tumor was confirmed by histological examination. These experiments revealed that the
maintenance chemotherapy after surgery for
ovarian cancer was important in the effective treatment of the patient (
tumor-bearing host).