Effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) by transcatheter arterial infusion on vessel of hepatic Vxª²2 carcinoma in rabbits

    ZHENG Mingª²You, WU Chengª²Yi

    Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital ,Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400016, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) by transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI) on the vessel of hepatic Vxª²2 carcinoma in rabbits. METHODS: Fifty New Zealand rabbits weighing 2ª²3 kg with hepatic Vxª²2 carcinoma were randomly divided into five groups two weeks after implantation and were treated with As2O3 (experimental groups), cisplatin or normal saline (control groups ) by TAI for 7 consecutive days. Three weeks later, the capillary endothelial cells of tumor tissues were investigated under transmission electron microscope and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The swelling and necrosis of capillary endothelial cells, and the microthrombus in tumor tissue were observed under transmission electron microscope in the experimental groups. Significantly decreased VEGF expression was also observed in As2O3 groups in comparison with that in the control groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: As2O3 by transcatheter arterial infusion can reduce the generation of blood vessels and can selectively damage the blood vessels of tumor tissues. The effect of As2O3 by TAI is in a doseª²dependent manner. ......