Intratumoral Injection of Holmium-Chitosan Complex in Prostate Cancer / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to pathologically evaluate the therapeutic and toxic effects of the 166Ho-chitosan complex(166HC) on prostatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The DU-145 cell line was subcutaneously heterotransplanted into 30 nude mice, resulting in 24 prostatic cancers. The 24 nude mice with prostatic cancer were divided into four groups. Group I(n=6) received 0.5ml normal saline, group II(n=6) 0.5ml chitosan, group III(n=6) 370 MBq of 166HC and group IV(n=6) 740 MBq of 166HC per 1cm3, intratumorally. The tumor sizes were measured at 1 and 2 weeks after injection. The 24 mice were sacrificed and pathological examination performed Haematoxylin & Eosin(H & E) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling(TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: Two weeks after injection of 166HC, the tumor volumes in groups III and IV were smaller than those in groups I and II(p<0.05). H & E staining of the tumors showed wide central necrosis in groups III and IV, but not in groups I and II. TUNEL staining showed false positive reactions along the peripheral margins in all groups. No toxic changes were found in the liver, kidney, peripheral blood and bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: An intratumoral injection of 166HC appears to be a new, safe and promising alternative radiotherapeutic modality for the local control of prostatic cancer, with minimized toxicities as the administered 166HC is retained at the injection site.