Experimental liver cancer: improved response after hepatic artery ligation and infusion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to investigate whether regional infusion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) could improve the therapeutic results of hepatic artery ligation (HAL) on liver cancer in a rat model.


METHODS
Morris hepatoma 3924A was implanted intrahepatically in 50 ACI rats. Two weeks after tumor implantation, 40 rats underwent hepatic artery cannulation and ligation. The cannula was connected to an infusion port implanted subcutaneously. Animals were then divided into four groups of 10 each to receive seven daily intraarterial injections of IFN-gamma 100,000 IU/rat/day (HAL + IFN group), TNF-alpha 30 micrograms/rat/day (HAL + TNF group), IFN + TFN (HAL + IFN + TNF group), or normal saline solution (HAL group). The remaining 10 rats received a laparotomy only and served as untreated controls. Tumor volume, viable tumor area, and histopathology were assessed after 3 weeks.


RESULTS
The tumor growth was significantly retarded in the HAL group compared with the controls (tumor volume 683 +/- 245 mm3 vs 2424 +/- 596 mm3, p < 0.05 ANOVA). HAL + TNF (221 +/- 93 mm3) and HAL + IFN + TNF groups (74 +/- 31 mm3), but not the HAL + IFN group (493 +/- 164 mm3), were much more effective than the HAL group in controlling tumor growth (p < 0.05). HAL + IFN + TNF achieved the best tumor control resulting in a 60% tumor-free rate (p < 0.05 vs all other groups).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that HAL combined with regional infusion of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma significantly reduces tumor growth in a rat liver model. This attractive concept of combined modality therapy may have utility in the clinical setting in instances of unresectable liver cancer.
Yang
R
R
Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
Liu
Q
Q
Rescorla
F J
FJ
Grosfeld
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008026:Ligation; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma