title: The evaluation of anti-angiogenic effects of Endostar on rabbit VX2 portal vein tumor thrombus using perfusion MSCT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There were many treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), in which targeted anti-angiogenic drug therapy is becoming a popular research topic. However, an objective and non-invasive method that can evaluate the treatment effects is still lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits implanted with VX2 tumor thrombus in portal vein were randomly assigned into 3 groups: Endostar, saline, or control, six in each group. Multi-slice CT (MSCT) perfusion scanning was performed to measure the differences in blood flow (TBF), tissue blood volume (TBV), and capillary permeability time the surface (PS) before and after Endostar treatment, between Endostar and saline treatment. Two weeks after treatment, both Endostar and saline groups underwent CT perfusion scan. The rabbits then were sacrificed by air embolism, and specimens of tumor thrombosis were collected. Immunohistochemistry assay was also performed to compare the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PVTT after Endostar, saline and placebo treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Endostar group, PVTT CT perfusion parameters (TBF, TBV, PS) significantly decreased after the treatment (p <0.05). Post-treatment PVTT CT perfusion parameters (TBF, TBV, PS) were significantly lower in Endostar group than in Saline group (p <0.05). VEGF is mainly expressed in cytoplasma. After Endostar treatment, the expression of VEGF in PVTT was markedly reduced. There was also significant difference on post-treatment VEGF protein expression measured by Immunohistochemistry assay between Endostar group and control group (p <0.05). Post-treatment PVTT CT perfusion parameters (TBF, TBV, PS) were positively correlated with VEGF protein expression in all 3 groups (rs > 0, p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-slice CT perfusion imaging can evaluate the anti-angiogenic effects of Endostar for the VX2 tumor thrombus in portal vein, and provide quantitative functional information.
authors.forename: Guoquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Dinuo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D043169:Endostatins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D043169:Endostatins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C522911:endostar protein