ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of electrochemotherapy (EChT) and radiofrequence ablation (RFA) on rats with implanted liver cancer.Methods Immediate cancerous ascites injection method was utilized for creation of rats liver cancer model and followed by treatment with EchT and RFA respectively. Tumor size, necrosis and apoptosis were observed one week later by imaging and pathology. The results were compared with those of control group. The survival times were observed also. Results Before treatment, all rats average liver tumor volume was (100?6)mm 3. One week after treatment, average tumor volumes in EChT group [(125?10)mm 3] and RFA group [(143?12)mm 3] were significantly smaller than those of control group [(190?11)mm 3], but tumor volume showed significant statistical difference between EChT group and RFA group. Necrosis, apoptosis and survival times in EChT group and RFA group were significantly higher than those of control group.Conclusions EChT or RFA could promote tumor necrosis, induce apoptosis, inhibit tumor growth and prolong the survival time of rats with implanted liver cancer.