Experimental combined systemic and local chemotherapy for intraocular malignancy
H. S. Liu, M. F. Refojo and D. M. Albert
Greene melanoma was transplanted into the anterior chamber of rabbit eyes.
These animal models were divided into four groups. Group 1 received
carmustine (1,3 bis [2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea) intravenously. Group 2
received the drug by sub-Tenon-retrobulbar (periocular) injection. Group 3
received both periocular and intravenous administration; the combined dose
was the same as that in group 1. Group 4 served as untreated control. The
effectiveness of the various administration routes was compared by clinical
observation of the size of the tumor growing in the eye, weight of the
enucleated eyes, and histopathologic examination. Administration of
carmustine delayed the growth of Greene melanoma in rabbit eye of all three
treated groups, but effectiveness of treatment was considerably enhanced by
combining periocular and intravenous administration of a lower dose of
carmustine.
