title: Transient increased expression of VEGF and MMP-1 in a rat liver tumor model after hepatic arterial occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the influence of hepatic arterial occlusion (HAO) on blood perfusion of transplanted cancer in rat's liver, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and explores the mechanisms involved in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)-induced metastasis of liver cancer preliminarily.
  
  
  METHODS
  Walker 256 carcinosarcoma was transplanted into rat's liver to create the liver cancer model. Hepatic arterial ligation (HAL) was used to block the hepatic arterial blood supply and simulate TAE. Rats bearing tumor were divided into three groups: control, laparotomy control, and HAL groups. Blood perfusion of tumor was analyzed by a Hoechst 33342 labeling assay. The level of serum VEGF was assayed by ELISA; and the expression of VEGF and MMP-1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two days after HAL, the number of Hoechst 33342 labeled cells which represent the blood perfusion of the tumor directly and hypoxia of tumor indirectly in the HAL group decreased significantly compared with that in the control group (329.1+/-29.3 vs. 383.6+/-19.2, P<0.01). The level of serum VEGF in the HAL group increased significantly compared with that of the control group (92.5+/-43.9 pg/mL vs. 54.9+/-19.3 pg/mL, P<0.05). The expression of VEGF and MMP-1 mRNA in the tumor tissue of the HAL group increased significantly compared with that of the control and the laparotomy control groups (P<0.05). The blood perfusion data of the tumor, represented by number of Hoechst 33342 labeled cells, showed an inverse correlation with the expression of VEGF mRNA in tumor tissue (P<0.05). While 6 days after HAL, the blood perfusion of tumor in HAL group decreased and the expression of VEGF and MMP-1 increased only slightly, not significantly, compared with that in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, blockage of hepatic arterial blood supply results in transient decreased blood perfusion and increased expression of metastasis-associated genes VEGF and MMP-1 of transplanted liver cancer in rats. Decreased blood perfusion and hypoxia may be the major reason for up-regulated expression of VEGF. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved with TAE-induced metastasis may lead to the enhancement of the long-term effects of TAE for liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China 200092. guoweijian1@sohu.com
authors.forename: Wei-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Chang-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wen Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008026:Ligation; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1