RESUMO
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the antitumor effects on mice xenografted ovarian carcinoma using the technique of ultrasound-mediated drug release from paclitaxel-loaded lipid microbubbles (PLMs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five ovarian cancer-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into five groups of five mice each. Each group received a unique kind of treatment once a day. These treatments were PLMs combined with ultrasound, intravenous paclitaxel administration, non-drug-loaded microbubbles combined with ultrasound, intravenous PLM administration, and normal saline administration (the control group). After 7 days of consecutive treatment, all mice were sacrificed, and their tumors were harvested to measure volumes and weights. The tumor inhibition rate was calculated by weight. Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Mean tumor volume and weight were the lowest in the first group (PLMs combined with ultrasound), so this group's tumor inhibition rate was the highest (P < .05). On immunohistology, VEGF and p53 expression levels were lowest (P < .05) in the first group. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound irradiation mediates PLM destruction so that the drug is released from the vehicles at the same time. It helps achieve targeted chemotherapy in tumor tissues. This technique has potential to be adopted as a novel tool for ovarian cancer chemotherapy.
