title: Effects of thalidomide on angiogenesis and tumor growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of thalidomide on angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four nude mice were randomly divided into therapy group and control group, 12 mice in each group. Thalidomide dissolved in 0.5% sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) suspension was administered intraperitoneally once a day at the dose of 200 mg/kg in therapy group, and an equivalent volume of 0.5% CMC in control group. Mice were sacrificed on the 30th d, tumor size and weight and metastases in liver and lungs were measured. CD34 and VEGF mRNA in tumor tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR respectively and microvessel density (MVD) was counted. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and ALT and AFP were also tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MVD and VEGF mRNA in therapy group were less than those in control group (31.08+/-16.23 vessels/HP vs 80.00+/-26.27 vessels/HP, 0.0538+/-0.0165 vs 0.7373+/-0.1297, respectively, P<0.05). No statistical difference was observed in tumor size and weight and metastases in liver and lungs. TNF-alpha was significantly lower in therapy group than in control group (28.64+/-4.64 ng/L vs 42.69+/-6.99 ng/L, P<0.05). No statistical difference in ALT and AFP was observed between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thalidomide can significantly inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. It also has inhibitory effects on circulating TNF-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. zhangzhonglin221@sina.com
authors.forename: Zhong-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Su
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D017931:DNA Primers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013792:Thalidomide