title: The evaluation of anti-angiogenic treatment effects for implanted rabbit VX2 breast tumors using functional multi-slice spiral computed tomography (f-MSCT).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the benefit of functional multi-slice spiral computed tomography (f-MSCT) perfusion imaging in the non-invasive assessment of targeted anti-angiogenesis therapy on an implanted rabbit VX2 breast tumor model.
  
  
  METHODS
  69 female pure New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups and received treatment accordingly: control (saline), Endostar, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin and 5-Fluorouracil, CEF), combination therapy (Endostar and CEF). After 2 weeks of treatment, f-MSCT perfusion scannings were performed for all rabbits and information about blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and surface permeability (SP) was collected. After perfusion imaging, tumor tissues were sampled for immunohistochemistry and the Western blot test of VEGF protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The VEGF expression level, measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, decreased by treatment group (control > Endostar > CEF > combination therapy). The same was true for the mean BF, BV, MTT and PS, which decreased from the control group to the combination therapy group gradually. The mean MTT level increased in reverse order from the control to the combination therapy group. The difference between any 2 groups on these measures was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (2) There was moderate positive correlation between VEGF expression and BE, BV, or PS level (P < 0.05) and a negative correlation between VEGF expression and MTT level for all 4 groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, f-MSCT can be used as a non-invasive approach to evaluate the effect of anti-angiogenic therapy for implanted rabbit VX2 breast tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Chinese Medical University, No. 92, Beiermalu Road, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China. leizhen2004@163.com
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Heji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Huanjiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001810:Blood Volume; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D043169:Endostatins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043169:Endostatins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A