Experimental combined systemic and local chemotherapy for intraocular malignancy.

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.