Brachytherapy Using Elastin-Like Polypeptides with (131)I Inhibit Tumor Growth in Rabbits with VX2 Liver Tumor.
Brachytherapy is a targeted type of radiotherapy utilized in the treatment of cancers. Elastin-like polypeptides are a unique class of genetically engineered peptide polymers that have several attractive properties for brachytherapy.



To explore the feasibility and application of brachytherapy for VX2 liver tumor using elastin-like polypeptides with (131)I so as to provide reliable experimental evidence for a new promising treatment of liver cancer.



Elastin-like polypeptide as carrier was labeled with (131)I using the iodogen method. Ten eligible rabbits with VX2 liver tumor were randomly divided into the treatment group (n = 5) and control group (n = 5). The treatment group received brachytherapy using elastin-like polypeptide with (131)I, and in the control group, elastin-like polypeptide was injected into the VX2 liver tumor as a control. Periodic biochemical and imaging surveillances were required to assess treatment efficacy.



The stability of elastin-like polypeptide with (131)I in vitro was maintained at over 96.8 % for 96 h. Biochemistry and imaging indicated brachytherapy using elastin-like polypeptide with (131)I for liver tumor can improve liver function and inhibit tumor growth (P < 0.05).



Elastin-like polypeptide can be an ideal carrier of (131)I and have high labeling efficiency, radiochemical purity and stability. Brachytherapy using elastin-like polypeptide with (131)I for liver tumor is a useful therapy that possesses high antitumor efficacy advantages.
Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Xinpei
X
Liu
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Yiming
Y
Shen
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, No. 731 Hospital of CASIC, Beijing, 100074, China.
Xuqian
X
Zhang
Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Rui
R
Lin
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Qiang
Q
Jia
Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Yixiang
Y
Chang
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
Wenge
W
Liu
Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. lwentian64@163.com.
Wentian
W
Liu
D000818:Animals; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004549:Elastin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D000072098:Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010455:Peptides; D004549:Elastin
131I; Brachytherapy; Elastin-like polypeptide; Liver neoplasms