Abstract
Background: To evaluate the effect of transcatheter therapies combining with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment on hepatocellular necrosis, apoptosis and proliferation by using the rabbit VX2 tumor model. Methods: Ninety six models were randomly divided into 4 groups: transcatheter arterial chemoembolization group (TACE), radiofrequency ablation group (RFA), TACE+RFA group and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) + RFA group. The above groups were further divided into two subgroups, A (15 rabbits) and B (9 rabbits). The subgroup B (control group) was followed up until animal death. Results: The high expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was observed in the adjacent liver tissue in TACE and TACE+RFA. The highest increase of transaminase levels and serum HSP70 were detected in TACE+RFA group. TAE+RFA group had a low apoptotic rate and more hepatocyte proliferation as compared to TACE and TACE+RFA groups; and it had the longest end-point survival among these groups. Conclusions: The TAE+RFA treatment had a better outcome than RFA, including a better liver tumor control, a less liver injury, and a longer survival than TACE+RFA. Compared to TACE and TACE+RFA procedures, TAE+RFA significantly decreased the liver injury, hepatocellular necrosis, apoptosis and systemic proinflammatory cytokine release caused by anticancer drugs application.
Effect of vascular occlusion on radiofrequency ablation of the liver in a rabbit VX2 tumor model
