Pharmacokinetics of gelatin sponge microparticles in a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model of hepatic arterial chemoembolization.

The objective of this study is to investigate pharmacokinetics of gelatin sponge microparticles (GSMs) combined with epirubicin in a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model of hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Eighteen successful models of VX2 in New Zealand white rabbits was established, which were divided into three groups randomly: HAI group (n = 6), the epirubicin solution (epirubicin 10 mg mixed with saline 10 ml into the hepatic artery); GSMs-TACE group (n = 6), GSMs (20 mg) mixed with epirubicin solution (1 mg/ml); c-TACE group (n = 6), epirubicin (10 mg) mixed with lipiodol (10 ml). Each rabbit was administrated epirubicin at dose adjusted for a 1 mg/kg. Samples were collected from femoral vein at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min after therapy after 120 min; rabbit was killed, and tumor and peritumoral normal liver tissue was cised. Epirubicin concentrations in plasma and tumor were measured. The epirubicin concentration in plasma was significantly lower in GSMs-TACE group than in HAI group. C max in there groups after administration was 28.77 ± 7.15 µg/ml in c-TACE group, 83.84 ± 32.28 µg/ml in GSMs-TACE group, and 238.46 ± 23.44 µg/ml in HAI group at 5 min, respectively. The epirubicin concentration in tumor tissue was 53.06 ± 16.9 µg/g in c-TACE group, 44.49 ± 16.80 µg/g in the GSMs-TACE group, and 18.32 ± 8.30 µg/g in HAI group, respectively. Epirubicin concentration of GSMs-TACE group was significantly higher than that of HAI group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) at 0-120 min in c-TACE, GSMs-TACE, and HAI groups were 1,815 ± 889.88, 3,416 ± 799.90, and 11,899 ± 2,717.17 µg min/ml, respectively. The AUC was lower in GSMs-TACE group than in HAI group (P < 0.05). Compared with HAI, GSMs-TACE has higher epirubicin concentrations in tumor and lower concentrations in plasma. The results show that GSMs-TACE has a feature of slow drug release-it may be one of the mechanisms of GSMs-TACE for HCC.

Erratum: Inhibition of P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and cytochrome P450 3A4 improves the oral absorption of octreotide in rats with portal hypertension.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3808.].

Inhibition of P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and cytochrome P450 3A4 improves the oral absorption of octreotide in rats with portal hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to increase the intestinal transport of octreotide (OCT) by targeting the first-pass impact to identify a potential method for decreasing portal vein pressure (PVP) using oral OCT. Thus, the bioavailability of intestinally absorbed OCT was evaluated in normal rats and rats with portal hypertension (PH) that had been administered P-glycoprotein/multidrug resistance-associated protein 2/cytochrome P450 3A4 (P-gp/MRP2/CYP3A4) inhibitors. The mRNA and protein expression levels of P-gp, MRP2 and CYP3A4 were evaluated in normal and PH rats with or without OCT and the inhibitors using RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. The potential effects of the inhibitor administration on PVP were also examined. The results suggest that P-gp, MRP2 and CYP3A4 play important roles in prohibiting the enteral absorption of OCT, particularly under a PH environment. Moreover, inhibitors of P-gp, MRP2 and CYP3A4 decrease the first-pass effects of OCT and effectively reduce PVP under PH conditions. Therefore, the present results suggest P-gp, MRP2 and CYP3A4 are key factors in the intestinal absorption of OCT. The inhibition of P-gp, MRP2 and CYP3A4 can markedly decrease the first-pass effects of OCT, and their use may facilitate the use of orally administered OCT.

Myxoid liposarcoma in the abdominal wall: a case report.

A liposarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma, and most liposarcomas are malignant. The extremities are the most common site for liposarcomas. There are 5 histologic types of liposarcoma, as follows: well differentiated; myxoid; round cell; pleomorphic; and dedifferentiated. Myxoid liposarcomas (MLSs) represent a subgroup of liposarcomas. There has been no report of MLSs in the abdominal wall. We report a rare case of a MLS of a 43-year-old male who presented with tensile force on the abdominal wall. Computed tomography (CT) found a tumor in abdominal wall. There was no other abnormal symptom and the laboratory testing was also unusual. At last, the tumor was successfully excised, which was diagnosed MLSs in pathology. Following standard principles, after complete excision, the patient received radiotherapy. The patient was followed up for 8 month and no disease recurrence was identified. MLSs are rarely seen in the clinic, irrespective of the presenting signs, but also based on histologic features. The aim of this report was to present the differential diagnosis of an abdominal wall mass, and to remind us of MLSs.