OBJECTIVETo estimate the effect of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) to the melanoma lung metastasis mice models and the feasibility of aerosol delivery treatment for lung cancer therapy.

METHODB16F10 melanoma lung metastasis mice models were made, and nodules number, inhibition rate, tumor area, mean nodules diameter and so on were investigated after the aerosol delivery treatment. Spleen index and thymus index were calculated at the end of the experiments. The change of body weight, physiological state and the lung tumor tissue in pathological histology were inspeated.

RESULTThe total number of tumor lesions, weight of lungs and the area of lung metastasis of aerosol treatment group had significant difference comparing with normal group and control group. Mean nodules diameter had no significant difference comparing with control group. The spleen index of aerosol treatment group was decreased and thymus index was significantly decreased comparing with normal group and control group. During the treatment there are no obvious changes in physiological state. The lung cancer tissue of aerosol delivery treatment group was recovered in pathological histology.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that aerosol delivery of HCPT demonstrated powerful antitumor activity and was useful for melanoma lung metastasis by aerosol delivery treatment.