Inhibition of angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 on growth and metastasis of experimental rat pancreatic cancer

Objective To study the effects of angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 on the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer in SD rat model. Methods Dimethylbenzanthracine (9 mg) (DMBA),was implanted into the parenchyma of Sprague Dawley rat pancreas to induce pancreatic cancer. Rats with established pancreatic carcinoma were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 rats each) to receive every the other day for consecutive 13 weeks before sacrifice peritoneal cavity injection of: Normal saline (control),5-fluorouracil 30 mg·kg -1 (5-Fu group),SU5416 16 mg·kg -1 (SU5416 group),and both 5-Fu and SU5416(combined treatment group). Tumor weight,inhibition rates,intratumoral microvessel density (MVD),apoptotic index (AI) and metastasis were evaluated. Results Tumor weight was (1.15±0.21) g,(0.68±0.42) g,(0.31±0.11) g,(0.19±0.06) g respectively;the inhibition rate was 0,48%,80%,85% respectively;the intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was (12.3±3.2),(11.4±3.8),(2.1±1.5),(1.8±1.1) respectively;The apoptotic index (AI) was (2.64±1.86)%,(5.71±3.14)%,(13.21±4.26)%,(21.12±7.15)% respectively. Peritoneal metastasis was significantly less severe in 5-Fu group,SU5416 group and combined group than that in control group(83% versus 46%,25% and 0) ( P 0.05). Liver metastasis rate significantly decreased in the three treatment groups (67% vs 27%,17% and 0,P 0.05). ConclusionsSU5416 inhibits the multiplication of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) hence impedes the growth and metastasis of rat pancreas cancer.