[Inhibitory effects of iressa on hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-3B and HepG2 cell xenografts in nude mice].
OBJECTIVE
Iressa, a new molecular targeting medicine, has some effects on advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has seldom been reported. This study was to observe the efficacy and adverse effect of Iressa on HCC Hep-3B and HepG2 cell xenografts in nude mice.


METHODS
The nude mice with Hep-3B and HepG2 cell xenografts were randomized into control group (8 mice), low-dose group (8 mice), and high-dose group (8 mice), and received daily oral gavage of 5% glucose solution, 100 mg/kg Iressa, and 200 mg/kg Iressa, respectively, by 5 days each week for 3 weeks. The mice were killed 2 days after treatment. Inhibitory rate (IR) of tumor growth was calculated. Tumor volume, mice weight, and spleen index (SI) were compared between groups.


RESULTS
Body weight and tumor volume of the mice were caparable before treatment. IRs of Hep-3B cell xenograft growth were 32.77% in low-dose group and 46.99% in high-dose group; IRs of HepG2 cell xenograft growth were 68.57% and 75.24%, respectively. Body weight and SI of nude mice with either Hep-3B or HepG2 cell xenografts were significantly lower in high-dose group than in control group, but no obvious difference was observed between low-dose group and control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Iressa has obvious inhibitory effects on growth of both Hep-3B and HepG2 cell xenografts in nude mice, but high-dose (200 mg/kg) of Iressa may cause body weight lose and immunologic inhibition.
Xu
Li
L
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.
Zhang
Yao-Jun
YJ
Lin
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Li
Jin-Qing
JQ
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib