Modified transarterial chemoembolization with locoregional administration of sorafenib for treating hepatocellular carcinoma: feasibility, efficacy, and safety in the VX-2 rabbit liver tumor model.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of a local application of sorafenib within a conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbit model.


METHODS
VX-2 tumors were induced in the left liver lobe of 10 New Zealand White rabbits. After two weeks, growth was verified by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Five rabbits were treated by transarterial chemoembolization using an emulsion of sorafenib and ethiodized oil (referred to as SORATACE; n=5). Rabbits receiving oral sorafenib for two weeks (n=2) and untreated rabbits (n=3) served as controls. After two weeks, contrast-enhanced CT was performed, followed by animal necropsy.


RESULTS
The change in tumor diameter between baseline and follow-up was significantly different in the SORATACE group compared with the other groups; tumor shrinkage was observed in the SORATACE group only (P = 0.016). In both control groups, preserved hypervascularity was seen in the follow-up CT in all but one tumor. All tumors in the SORATACE group were devascularized in the follow-up CT. Importantly, substantial parenchymal damage in nontargeted areas of the tumor-bearing liver lobe was seen in rabbits treated with SORATACE.


CONCLUSIONS
SORATACE demonstrated high efficacy in the treatment of experimental VX-2 liver tumors but was also associated with substantial liver parenchymal toxicity.
Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinik Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. max.seidensticker@med.ovgu.de.
Max
M
Seidensticker
Sebastian
S
Streit
Norbert
N
Nass
Christian
C
Wybranski
Julian
J
Jürgens
Jan
J
Brauner
Nadine
N
Schulz
Thomas
T
Kalinski
Ricarda
R
Seidensticker
Benjamin
B
Garlipp
Ingo
I
Steffen
Jens
J
Ricke
Oliver
O
Dudeck
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D000077157:Sorafenib; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib