Experiment of embolizing hepatocarcinoma with heated lipiodol via hepatic artery in VX_2 rabbit model

Objective To evaluate the anti-tumour effect of 60℃ LipiodoI in the embolization of VX_2 hepatocarcinoma in rabbits.Methods VX_2 carcinoma cells were surgically implanted into the left liver lobe in 30 male New Zealand white rabbits,which were randomly divided into 3 groups by figure and table method with 10 rabbits in each group.Physiological saline,Lipiodol(37℃),and Lipiodol(60℃)were injected in each group via hepatic artery and liver cancer was embolized.The volume of tumour and serum level of aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were observed after one week,and the survival period of VX_2 rabbits was also observed.Results In the group of Lipiodol(60℃),the growth rate of tumour(0.92± 0.21)was significantly lower than that of control group(3.48±1.17)and Lipiodol(37℃)groups (1.69±0.26),respectively(F=34.95,P0.05).The survival period of Lipiodol(60℃)group (41.0±3.0)d was significantly longer than the control group(31.5±3.0)d(t=29.18,P0.05). Four days after the embolization,the serum level of AST of Lipiodol(60℃)(148.2±11.3)U/L was not higher than that of Lipiodol(37℃)(139.7±12.3)U/L(t=1.61,P0.05),but was significantly higher than the control group(68.6±6.6)U/L(t=19.24,P0.05).Conclusion Lipiodol(60℃) greatly decreases the tumour's growth rate and prolongs the survival period.It is a safe method and has stronger inhibitory effect than other groups.