Published online Jan 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i1.94
Revised: February 11, 2002
Accepted: February 20, 2002
Published online: January 15, 2003
AIM: To introduce an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in ACI-rats, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Poly-lactide-co-glycolide(Plcg)-microspheres in the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in this model, as well the value of this model in the experiments of interventional therapy.
METHODS: Subcapsular implantation of a solid Morris Hepatoma 3924A (1 mm3) in the livers was carried out in 11 male ACI-rats. The tumor volume (V1) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (13 days after implantation). After laparotomy and retrograde placement of catheter into the gastroduodenal artery (14 days after implantation), the following protocols of interventional treatment were performed: (A) mitomycin C+Poly-lactide-co-glycolide(Plcg)-microspheres (n = 4); (B) 0.9% NaCl (control group, n = 7). 13 days after these therapies the change of the tumor volume (V2) was determined by MRI again.
RESULTS: The success rate of tumor implantation reached to 100%. The mean tumor volume before TACE (V1) were 0.082 cm3 in group A and 0.096 cm3 in group B respectively. The mean tumor volume after TACE (V2) were 0.230 cm3 in group A and 1.347 cm3 in group B respectively. The mean V2/V1 were 2.860 in group A and 27.120 in group B respectively. Compared to the control group (group B), groups A showed a significant reduction of tumor growth (P = 0.004) in the period of observation.
CONCLUSION: The growth of liver tumor could be obviously prevented by utilizing Plcg-mitomycin-microspheres in TACE in animal model. This rat model of HCC is suitable for the experimental studies of interventional therapy.