Application of poly-lactide-co-glycolide-microspheres in the transarterial chemoembolization in an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma

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 3 924A (1 mm(3)) in the livers was carried out in 11 male ACI-rats. The tumor volume (V1) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (14 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 (Q) 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 cm(3) in group A and 0.096 cm(3) in group B respectively. The mean tumor volume after TACE (V2) were 0.230 cm(3) in group A and 1.347 cm(3) 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 13), 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.