Therapeutical Effect of TRAIL and ACNU on Glioma in Experimental Rat

[Purpose] To investigate the therapeutical effect of TRAIL and ACNU on glioma in experimental rat,and to explore the mechanism of their cooperative effect on induced tumor-cell apoptosis. [Methods] Glioma animal model was established by injecting C6 cells into the right caudate putamen of Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:TRAIL+ACNU group(group A),ACNU group(group B),TRAIL group(group C) and saline control group(group D). Survival and tumor gross condition were observed. Tumor volume and inhibition ratio of tumor cells were determined. Expression of TRAIL R2/DR5 with immunohistochemistry,alteration under electron microscope and apoptosis of tumor cells were observed. [Results] The survival in A or B groups was better than that in C or D group. The tumor volume of group A was (19.00±2.59)mm3; group B,(68.76±5.56)mm3; group C,(230.31±13.94)mm3; and group D,(238.84±10.64)mm3. Significant differences were found between the 4 groups (P0.05),except between group C and D. Apoptotic bodies in A and B groups were obvious electronmicroscopically,and less in group C and D. The apoptosis rate of group A (20.38%±1.62%) was higher than that of group B (14.85%± 2.41%),with significant difference(P0.05). No significant difference of apoptosis rate was found between group C(0.44%±0.21%) and group D(0.35%±0.24%) (P0.05). [Conclusions] ACNU causes tumor cells apoptosis and induces DR5 expression in glioma cells,which was sensitive to apoptosis that induced by TRAIL. Combination of TRAIL and ACNU in vivo has synergic effect to induce cell apoptosis.