Effect of transcatheter embolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in treatment of VX2 liver tumors of rabbits / 中国介入影像与治疗学

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the effect of transcatheter embolization combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of VX2 liver tumors of rabbits. Methods: Sixty rabbit VX2 liver tumor models were randomly divided into 4 groups (each n=15). Fifteen minutes after TACE or transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), RFA was performed in both TACE+RFA group and TAE+RFA group, respectively.And RFA group was only treated with RFA, TACE group underwent only TACE. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured 1 day before and 3 and 7 days after operation. Tumor growth rate, tumor necrosis rate and Suzuki score were measured 7 days after operation. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in liver lesions surrounding ablation zone or embolized zone was detected with immunohistochemistry 1, 3 and 7 days after operation, and hepatocyte apoptosis index and proliferation index were calculated. Results: The levels of ALT and AST in TACE+RFA group were higher than those in other groups 3 and 7 days after operation (all P<0.05). Seven days after operation, the Suzuki score in TACE+RFA group was higher than that in other groups, and tumor growth rates in TACE+RFA and TAE+RFA groups significantly decreased, while the necrosis rates in TACE+RFA and TAE+RFA groups increased compared with RFA and TACE groups (all P<0.05). The expression of HSP70 in hepatic lesions surrounding the ablation zone or embolized zone increased gradually 1, 3 and 7 days after operation, and in TACE+RFA group were higher than in other groups, in TAE+RFA group were higher than in TACE group and RFA group 3 days after operation (all P<0.05). The hepatocyte apoptosis index in hepatic lesions surrounding the ablation zone or embolized zone decreased gradually in all 4 groups 1, 3 and 7 days after operation, while in TACE+RFA group were higher than the other 3 groups, in TACE group 1 and 3 days after operation were higher than in TAE+RFA group and RFA group (all P<0.05). The hepatocyte proliferation index in 4 groups were higher 3 days after operation than that 1 and 7 days after operation, and compared with other groups, in TAE+RFA group were higher 1, 3 and 7 days after operation, in RFA group was higher 1 and 3 days after operation than in TACE+RFA group and TACE group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The effects of TACE+RFA and TAE+RFA on inhibiting tumor growth are better than TACE and RFA alone for treatment of VX2 liver tumors of rabbits. Compared with TACE+RFA, TAE+RFA can promote hepatocyte proliferation and inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis more effectively with less liver damage.