Development of a new orthotopic animal model of metastatic liver cancer in the rabbit VX2 model: Effect on metastases after partial hepatectomy, intra-arterial treatment with 3-bromopyruvate and chemoembolization

Josephina A. Vossen, Manon Buijs, Labiq Syed, Fatima Kutiyanwala, Mustafa Kutiyanwala, Jean Francois H. Geschwind, Mustafa Vali

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the influence of partial hepatectomy, intra-arterial treatment with 3-BrPA and TACE on regional and distant metastases. In order to achieve our objective, we tested the feasibility of both resection, intra-arterial therapy with 3-BrPA and TACE of VX2 liver cancer in New Zealand White rabbits. Methods: VX2 tumors were implanted in the left lateral lobe of the liver of 20 rabbits. Tumors were allowed to grow for 14 days. Rabbits were divided in four groups. Group 1 (n = 2) was sacrificed 14 days post implantation. Group 2, 3 and 4 (n = 6) underwent left lateral hepatectomy, a 1 h intra-arterial infusion with 3-BrPA and TACE respectively. Animals in each group were further subdivided into three groups of two animals each corresponding to the time-point of sacrifice after the procedure (7, 14 and 21 days respectively). After sacrifice, organs were harvested, fixed and analyzed. Results: Pathologic examination showed lung metastases in all 20 rabbits. Abdominal cavity dissemination was seen in five rabbits in Group 2, two rabbits in Group 3 and all rabbits in Group 4. Kidney metastases were seen in two rabbits treated with TACE. Conclusion: The VX2 rabbit model of liver cancer is a suitable model to compare the influence of partial hepatectomy, intra-arterial treatment with 3-BrPA and TACE on tumor recurrence in the form of regional and distant metastases. Our results indicate that intra-arterial delivery of 3-BrPA may result in a favorable metastatic profile when compared to both liver resection and TACE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)811-817
Number of pages7
JournalClinical and Experimental Metastasis
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 3-Bromopyruvate
  • Animal model
  • Cancer
  • Chemoembolization
  • HCC
  • Hepatectomy
  • Metastases
  • Transarterial
  • VX2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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