In an attempt to enhance effects of cancer chemotherapy, Angiotensin II (AT), a vasoconstricting catecholamine, was applied to intra-arterial infusion of the drug for advanced breast cancer. Quantitative measurement of tumor blood flow was conducted with scintigraphic techniques (81mKr). Angiotensin II given continuously through the internal thoracic artery induced prompt responses in local blood flow with a decrease in normal breast tissue and a concomitant increase in tumor. Thus, the tumor/control ratio of blood flow with AT rose to 3 times as much as that without AT. In 11 patients receiving adriamycin (ADR) alone intra-arterially, 73% responded clinically with CR or PR in their lesions, while in 11 patients receiving ADR + AT, 91% responded. Histologically, as high as 45% of patients treated with ADR + AT underwent marked regressive change with no viable cancer cells remaining in their lesions, compared to 18% in patients treated with ADR alone. Angiotensin II combined with chemotherapy, therefore proved to enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapy.
Aged Angiotensin II