Gene expression and MR diffusion-weighted imaging after chemoembolization in rabbit liver VX-2 tumor model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the dynamic characteristics and the correlation between PCNA, Bax, nm23, E-cadherin expression and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) after chemoembolization in rabbit liver VX-2 tumor model.


METHODS
Forty New Zealand rabbit liver VX-2 tumor models were included in the study. DWI was carried out periodically after chemoembolization. All VX-2 tumor samples in each group were examined by histopathology and Strept Avidin-Biotin Complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
The PCNA expression index in VX-2 tumors was higher than in the normal parenchyma around the tumor (P < 0.001). Nm23, Bax or E-caderin expression index in VX-2 tumors were lower than in the normal parenchyma around the tumor (all P < 0.001). PCNA and nm23 expression in the VX-2 tumor periphery first increased and then decreased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively), while the expression of Bax and E-cadherin before and after chemoembolization was insignificant. When b-value was 100 s/mm(2), there was a linear correlation between PCNA expression and ADC in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery (P < 0.001), and PCNA expression in VX-2 tumor periphery influenced the ADC.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential of VX-2 tumor infiltrating and metastasizing decreases, while its ability to proliferate increases for a short time after chemoembolization. To some degree, the ADC value indirectly reflects the proliferation of VX-2 tumor cells.
Yuan
You-Hong
YH
Department of Radiology, Hunan Province People's Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province, China. heyuanyouhong@yahoo.com.cn
Xiao
En-Hua
EH
Liu
Jian-Bin
JB
He
Zhong
Z
Jin
Ke
K
Ma
Cong
C
Xiang
Jun
J
Xiao
Jian-Hua
JH
Chen
Wei-Jian
WJ
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein