Tong Huan, Duan Li-Geng, Zhou Hong-Ying, Feng Shi
Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
Oncol Lett. 2018 Apr;15(4):5333-5338. doi: 10.3892/ol.2018.7980. Epub 2018 Feb 7.
The hepatic VX2 carcinoma model in rabbits is widely used for the preclinical study of hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study, a modification was made to the conventional method to establish the animal model, as the conventional method gives rise to frequent tumor seeding due to the drop-out of tumor fragments. In order to evaluate each distinct method of establishing the model, the rabbits were divided into two groups: Group A (the conventional method; n=20) and group B (the modified method; n=20). All surgical details were recorded for reference. At 14 days post-surgery, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and autopsy were conducted. Microscopic morphology of tumor cells was observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation (CD)31 were detected via immunochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In total, 19 rabbits in each group succeeded in model establishment. Throughout the surgery, group A experienced a longer surgery time compared with group B (group A vs. group B, 22.57±1.34 vs. 20.17±1.50 min; P<0.001), an increased tumor fragment drop-out frequency (group A vs. group B, 1.84±0.96 vs. 1.16±0.38; P=0.008) and an increased peritoneal nodule incidence (group A vs. group B, 35 vs. 5%, P=0.042). As for CECT, H&E and TEM, hepatic VX2 allografts in the two groups demonstrated similar imaging presentations and tumor cell morphology. In addition, VEGF and CD31 levels did not differ between the two groups. In conclusion, the modified method for the establishment of hepatic VX2 carcinoma model in rabbits may decrease tumor fragment drop-out frequency during surgery and incidence of tumor seeding without affecting the properties of VX2 carcinoma.
兔肝VX2癌模型广泛应用于肝细胞癌的临床前研究。在本研究中，对传统方法进行了改进以建立动物模型，因为传统方法由于肿瘤碎片脱落导致肿瘤种植频繁。为了评估建立模型的每种不同方法，将兔分为两组：A组（传统方法；n = 20）和B组（改良方法；n = 20）。记录所有手术细节以供参考。术后14天，进行对比增强计算机断层扫描（CECT）和尸检。使用苏木精和伊红（H&E）以及透射电子显微镜（TEM）观察肿瘤细胞的微观形态。通过免疫化学和逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和分化簇（CD）31。每组共有19只兔成功建立模型。在整个手术过程中，A组的手术时间比B组长（A组 vs. B组，22.57±1.34 vs. 20.17±1.50分钟；P<0.001），肿瘤碎片脱落频率增加（A组 vs. B组，1.84±0.96 vs. 1.16±0.38；P = 0.008），腹膜结节发生率增加（A组 vs. B组，35% vs. 5%，P = 0.042）。至于CECT、H&E和TEM，两组的肝VX2同种异体移植物表现出相似的影像学表现和肿瘤细胞形态。此外，两组之间VEGF和CD31水平无差异。总之，改良的兔肝VX2癌模型建立方法可能会降低手术期间肿瘤碎片脱落频率和肿瘤种植发生率，而不影响VX2癌的特性。
