The effects of propofol on the growth behavior of hepatoma xenografts in Balb/c mice.
OBJECTIVE
Studies on the effects of propofol on the growth of hepatoma xenografts in Balb/c mice.


METHODS
In an effort to establish a hepatoma-xenograft model of BALB/C mice, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721 were inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/C mice. Forty mice were randomly divided into five different groups (n=8): control group (C group), Intralipid group (Y group), low dose (50mg/kg) propofol group (P1group), medium dose (100mg/kg) propofol group (P2group) and high dose (150mg/kg) propofol group (P3group). The tumor volume was measured before treatment and every 3days after treatment (T0d-T18d, T0represents time point before treatment, T3d-T18drepresent time points every 3days after treatment for a total of 18 days). All mice were sacrificed 19days after drug withdrawal. The tumor masses were extracted, weighed, and the tumor inhibition rate of propofol was calculated. The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the xenografted tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining.


RESULTS
No statistical significance in the tumor volume at T0d(before treatment), T3d(3days after treatment), and T6d(6days after treatment) among the five groups (P>0.05) could be determined. Compared to group C, the tumor volumes in the P1, P2, and P3groups were found to be significantly decreased in size upon increasing the propofol dosages (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance at time points T9d-T18din group Y compared to group C (P>0.05). The tumor weights in the P1, P2, and P3groups were found to be significantly lower as the propofol dosages increased (P<0.05), with no statistical significance determined in group Y (P>0.05). MMP-2 and VEGF protein levels were found to be significantly lower in the P1, P2, and P3groups as the propofol dosages increased (P<0.05), with no statistical significance in group Y (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Within a certain range, propofol was found to inhibit tumor growth and expression of MMP-2 and VEGF proteins in hepatoma xenografts in BALB/C mice in a dose-dependent manner.
LinZi People's Hospital, Linzi, Shandong, China. Electronic address: yiluxiangbei1234@sina.com.
Yi
Y
Liu
LinZi People's Hospital, Linzi, Shandong, China.
Na
N
Zhang
LinZi People's Hospital, Linzi, Shandong, China.
Quanjun
Q
Cao
LinZi People's Hospital, Linzi, Shandong, China.
Xuejie
X
Cui
Foshan Hospital of Zhongshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
Qiaoling
Q
Zhou
Foshan Hospital of Zhongshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
Chengxiang
C
Yang
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D064593:Heterografts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D015742:Propofol
Hepatoma xenografts; Matrix metalloproteinase-2; Propofol; Vascular endothelial growth factor