title: N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced pig liver hepatocellular carcinoma model: radiological and histopathological studies.
abstract: Experimental research involving animal models plays a critical role in the development and improvement of minimally invasive therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As a large animal, the pig is commonly used for surgery and interventional radiology research. In this study, liver multicentric HCC with cirrhosis was induced in six China Taihu pigs by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg of N-nitrosodiethylamine once a week for 3 months, followed by a period of 10-12 months without N-nitrosodiethylamine treatment. All pigs were in generally good health until the end of the study. The tumor nodules appeared hyperattenuating in the arterial phase of a dynamic computed tomography (CT) scan. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and CT angiography demonstrated that the tumors derived their blood supply mainly from the hepatic artery system. Lipiodol-CT showed Lipiodol retention in tumor areas. The histology and electron microscopic ultrastructure of the chemically induced liver HCC in this study resembled human HCC with a cirrhosis background. An immunohistochemistry study confirmed that the tumors were of hepatocyte origin. All highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated HCC tumors were identified in this study. Cholangiocarcinoma was not seen in any of the animals. Due to its comparable size to human anatomy, the pig liver HCC model would give a better scope for interventional and surgical manipulations than small animal models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiangping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yongsong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang J
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scutt
authors.forename: Qi-Yong
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007459:Iodized Oil; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D007459:Iodized Oil