Liver Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2003; 9(12): 2676-2680
Published online Dec 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2676
Combined transarterial chemoembolization and arterial administration of Bletilla striata in treatment of liver tumor in rats
Jun Qian, Daryusch Vossoughi, Dirk Woitaschek, Elsie Oppermann, Wolf O. Bechstein, Wei-Yong Li, Gan-Sheng Feng, Thomas Vogl
Jun Qian, Gan-Sheng Feng, Department of Radiology, Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Wei-Yong Li, Department of Pharmacology, Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Daryusch Vossoughi, Dirk Woitaschek, Thomas Vogl, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
Elsie Oppermann, Wolf O. Bechstein, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, J. W. Goethe University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Dr. Thomas Vogl, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. t.vogl@em.uni.frankfurt.de
Telephone: +49-69-63017277 Fax: +49-69-63017258
Received: August 23, 2003
Revised: September 10, 2003
Accepted: September 25, 2003
Published online: December 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate and compare the effect of combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and arterial administration of Bletilla striata (a Chinese traditional medicine against liver tumor) versus TACE alone for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in ACI rats.

METHODS: Subcapsular implantation of a solid Morris hepatoma 3924A (2 mm3) in the liver was carried out in 30 male ACI rats. Tumor volume (V1) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 13 after implantation. The following different agents of interventional treatment were injected after retrograde catheterization via gastroduodenal artery (on day 14), namely, (A) TACE (0.1 mg mitomycin + 0.1 ml Lipiodol) + Bletilla striata (1.0 mg) (n = 10); (B) TACE + Bletilla striata (1.0 mg) + ligation of hepatic artery (n = 10), (C) TACE alone (control group, n = 10). Tumor volume (V2) was assessed by MRI (on day 13 after treatment) and the tumor growth ratio (V2/V1) was calculated.

RESULTS: The mean tumor volume before (V1) and after (V2) treatment was 0.0355 cm3 and 0.2248 cm3 in group A, 0.0374 cm3 and 0.0573 cm3 in group B, 0.0380 cm3 and 0.3674 cm3 in group C, respectively. The mean ratio (V2/V1) was 6.2791 in group A, 1.5324 in group B and 9.1382 in group C. Compared with the control group (group C), group B showed significant inhibition of tumor growth (P < 0.01), while group A did not (P > 0.05). None of the animals died during implantation or in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSION: Combination of TACE and arterial administration of Bletilla striata plus ligation of hepatic artery is more effective than TACE alone in the treatment of HCC in rats.

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