title: Study on the effect of chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the combining effects of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and open local thermal microwave ablation in a hepatocellular carcinoma animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor cubes were implanted into the liver of 30 male inbred ACI rats. Groups of 10 animals were treated at 13 days (TACE or microwave ablation) and 16 days (microwave ablation) postimplantation with combined therapy of TACE (0.1 mg mitomycin C; 0.1 mg iodized oil; 5.0 mg degradable starch microspheres) and microwave ablation (2450 Mhz; 45 s; 35 W) (study group A), TACE alone (control group B), or microwave ablation alone (control group C). At day 12 and day 25 tumor size was measured via magnetic resonance imaging and the relative growth ratio was calculated. Hepatic specimens were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean growth rates were 1.34±0.19 in group A, 3.19±0.13 in group B, and 4.18±0.19 in group C. Compared with control groups B and C, tumor growth rate in group A was significantly inhibited (P < 0.01). The VEGF-antibody reaction in peritumoral tissue (staining intensity at portal triad, percent antibody reaction and staining intensity at central vein) was significantly lower in group A compared with group B (P < 0.01). No significant difference between group A and group C could be observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation shows improved results of TACE followed by microwave ablation as treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model, compared with single therapy regimen regarding the inhibition of growth rate and reduction of VEGF-level in peritumoral tissue.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. t.vogl@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Thomas Josef
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oppermann
authors.forename: Nagy N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.forename: Huedayi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korkusuz
authors.forename: Nour Eldin A
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Nour Eldin
authors.forename: Wolf Otto
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Bechstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays