Alginate-barium sulfate microspheres via vascular interventional procedures in treatment of VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of alginate-barium sulfate microspheres via transcatheter hepatic arterial infusion in treatment of liver VX2 tumors in rabbits. Methods: A total of 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 5 rabbits in group A (normal control group); 19 rabbits implanted with liver VX2 turnors were further divided into 2 groups, with 10 rabbits in group B (tumor control group) , and 9 in group C (therapy group). Rabbits in group C were catheterized with 3F microcatheter by Seldinger technique for interventional therapy. Spiral CT scanning was performed in group B and group C 14 days after implantation and 14 days after treatment. Liver function tests (TB, ALT, and AST) were performed before and 7 days after treatment. Five rabbits in group B and C were sacrificed to measure the tumor weight and volume; MVD and expression of CD34 and VEGF expression were examined by immunohistochemical technique. Survival periods of the animals were observed and animals were sacrificed 70 days after treatment. Results: Seven days after treatment, the ALT and AST in group B were significantly higher than those in group A and group C (P<0.01). Fourteen days after treatment, the average tumor weights in group C was significantly lower than that in group B ([2.434±0.992] g vs [4.696± 1.2461 g, P<0.01); and the tumor volume in group C was also significantly lower than that in group B ([2.126±0.929] cm3 vs [3.962±1.101] cm3, p< 0.01). Pathological examination showed large necrotic areas in the tumors in group C. CD34 stained necrotic area had no obvious microvessels. The angiogenesis was decreased greatly in the tumor tissues left. Weak VEGF expression was only found in the survived tumor cells. In contrast, group B had abundant cancer cells, large cancerous nests, abundant CD34 positive angiogenesis and strong cytoplasmic staining of VEGF. The survival of rabbits in group C was obviously longer than in group B. Conclusion: Treatment with alginate-barium sulfate microsphere via hepatic artery infusion is safe and feasible for treating liver VX2 tumor. Alginate-barium sulfate microspheres can obviously inhibit tumor growth and have less toxicity to the normal liver tissue.