ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and 18F-FDG-PET/CT in assessing the early therapeutic effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for VX2 sarcomas in experimental rabbits. Methods VX2 sarcoma was inoculated at bilateral hind limbs in 14 New Zealand white rabbits to establish the animal models. The implanted VX2 tumor on one hind leg was treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA (study group), while no RFA was given to the VX2 tumor on the contralateral hind leg (control group). DWI-MRI was performed at 2 days after RFA, and 18F-FDG-PET/CT examination was employed at 3 days after RFA. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and standard uptake value (SUV) of the untreated tumor and the ablated tumor were separately calculated. Taking the pathologic result as the gold standard, the consistency of DWI-MRI, PET/CT as well as the combination of DWI-MRI and PET/CT with the clinical diagnosis was separately evaluated by Kappa test. Results Before RFA, DWI-MRI demonstrated that the VX2 tumor was characterized by hypo-intensity signal on T1 and hyper-intensity signal on T2 with ring-shaped enhancement on T1-weighted image; PET/CT showed that the tumor had nodular or ring-shaped 18F-FDG accumulation. After RFA, DWI-MRI revealed that the VX2 tumor was manifested as hyper-intensity signal on T1 and slight higher density on T1 with slight enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image; PET/CT showed lowered accumulation of 18F-FDG. The mean ADC value of the ablated tumor was (1.52 ± 0.24) × 10-3 mm2/s, which was obviously higher than that of the un-ablated tumor, that was (1.09 ± 0.12) × 10-3 mm2/s, the difference was statistically significant(P0.05). The Kappa value of the consistency between combination of DWI-MRI with PET/CT and pathology was 0.786, which was significantly different from the result by simple DWI-MRI or simple PET/CT evaluation (P< 0.05). Conclusion Both ADC value of DWI-MRI and SUV value of PET/CT are useful indexes for evaluating the early therapeutic effect of RFA. Both DWI-MRI and PET/CT have their respective advantages, nevertheless, combination use of both can effectively improve the evaluation of curative effect for VX2 tumor after RFA in experimental rabbits.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the inhibitory effect of the extract of fungi of Huaier (EFH) on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.Hep-G2 cells,a human HCC cell line,were cultured in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with EFH of different concentrations (1,2,4,8 mg/mL) for 24,48 and 72 h respectively.The apoptosis rate of the cells was flow cytometrically measured.Thirty-six tumor-bearing New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:group A (control group),in which the rabbits were infused with 0.2 mL/kg normal saline via the hepatic artery;group B (transhepatic artery chemoembolization [TACE] group),in which the rabbits were given lipiodol at 0.2 mL/kg plus MMC at 0.5 mg/kg via the hepatic artery;group C (TACE +EFH group),in which EFH (500 mg/kg) were orally administered after TACE.Two weeks after TACE,the rabbits were sacrificed and the implanted tumors were sampled.The tumor volume and the necrosis rate were determined.The tumor tissues were immunohistochemically detected for the expressions of factor Ⅷ,VEGF,P53,Bax and Bcl-2.The microvessel density (MVD) was calculated by counting the factor Ⅷ-positive endothelial cells.Our results showed that after treatment with EFH,the apoptosis rate of Hep-G2 cells was enhanced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.Two weeks after the treatment,the average tumor volume,the necrosis rate and the growth rate of the implanted tumor in group C were significantly different from those in groups A and B (P<0.05).MVD and VEGF expressions were significantly decreased in the group C when compared with those in groups B (P<0.05 for all).The Bax expression was weakest in group A and strongest in group C.The expressions of P53 and Bcl-2 were minimal in group C and maximal in group A.There were significant differences in the expressions of P53,Bax and Bcl-2 among the 3 groups (P<0.05 for all) and there was significant difference between group B and group C (P<0.05).It was concluded that EFH could suppress not only the growth of HCC cells but also tumor angiogenesis and it can induce the apoptosis of HCC cells.EFH serves as an alternative for the treatment of HCC.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the influence of Bifidobacterium adolescence on the expression of HIF-1?and VEGF in rabbit VX2 tumor.Methods:Rabbit VX2 tumor models were established and were divided into two groups(n= 10).Animals in the experimental group were injected with Bifidobacterium adolescence and those in the control group received normal saline via ear vein.Animals were sacrificed and the liver,kidney,spleen,heart,lung and tumor tissues were removed,cultured and Gram stained.The changes of tumor tissue were observed by H-E staining;immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of HIF-1?and VEGF in tumor tissues.Results:Bifidobacterium adolescence could target the tumor tissue.H-E staining showed the necrotic area was obviously enlarged after treatment with Bifidobacterium. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the positive rates of HIF-1?and VEGF in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P