Trans-arterial gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in a rabbit model

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2007-04, Vol.13 (14), p.2113-2117
• Main Authors: Gu, Tao, Li, Cai-Xia, Feng, Yan, Wang, Qian, Li, Chun-Hai, Li, Chuan-Fu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Embolization, Therapeutic - methods; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, p53; Genetic Therapy - methods; Iodized Oil; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mitomycin - therapeutic use; Rabbits; Rapid Communication; Tumor Burden; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i14.2113

To study the effect of adenovirus (Ad)-p53 gene therapy on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a rabbit model. VX2 tumor was grown in the liver of 24 rabbits. Animals were divided into four groups: group A receiving trans-arterial gene therapy (Ad-p53) only, group B receiving combined Ad-p53 therapy and trans-arterial embolization (lipiodol), group C receiving trans-arterial chemoembolization (lipiodol + mitomycin C), control group (D) receiving sodium chloride. Tumor volume (V1) was measured by using MRI (d 13). Interventional procedure was applied (d 14). Tumor volume (V2) was assessed by MRI (d 21) and the mean ratio (V2/V1) was calculated. After the second MRI, specimens of the liver were abstained and examined immunohistochemically using mutant-type p53 antibody. The positive expression was scored. Compared with control group (chi= 3.14 +/- 0.64), therapeutic groups all showed a significant decrease in the tumor growth ratio (P