Effect of medium-chain triglyceride emulsion in total parenteral nutrition on experimental hepatic metastasis in the rat.

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimens containing a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) emulsion on tumor metastasis.

METHODS

Tumor metastasis development was assessed by the number of metastatic foci on the liver surface in rats inoculated with ACL-15 tumor cells via the portal vein. Rats received one of the following TPN regimens: TPN containing an MCT emulsion (group M), in which tricaprylin emulsion served as the MCT and comprised 50% of nonprotein calories (NPC); TPN containing a long-chain triglyceride (LCT) emulsion (group L), in which soybean oil served as the LCT and comprised 50% of NPC; and TPN without lipid emulsion (group G), in which dextrose comprised 100% of NPC.

RESULTS

The number of metastatic foci was greatest in rats receiving TPN containing the MCT emulsion on day 11 after tumor cell inoculation and either 11 days of TPN or 2 days of TPN followed by 9 days standard rat chow.

CONCLUSIONS

TPN containing MCT emulsion increases liver metastasis early in its administration.