Experimental treatment of the transplanted hepatoma in rabbit by hepatic arterial embolization using interleukin-2 dextran microsphere and iodized

Objective: To observe the degree of necrosis in the transplanted hepatic tumor and the changes in immunity of the rabbits after hepatic arterial embolization using interleukin-2 (IL-2) dextran microsphere and iodized oil. Methods: IL-2 dextran microsphere and iodized oil were infused into hepatic artery of 20 rabbits with transplanted hepatic tumor. Infusion of dextran microspheres and iodized oil were taken in another transplanted hepatic tumor group of rabbits as the control. The blood samples were acquired pre-and post-embolization to measure the changes of IL-2 and sIL-2R in both groups. The rabbits were killed one week after the performance to get tumor tissue for pathologic examination. The comparison between using IL-2 dextran microsphere and dextran microsphere was made through optic and electronic microscopy for pathologic analysis. Results: Obvious increase of IL-2 and apparent decrease of sIL-2R in blood were demonstrated after the performance. The transplanted tumors mass underwent complete necrosis with false membranous capsule formation. In controlled group, slight increase of IL-2 and slight decrease of sIL-2R in blood were shown with partial central necrosis without false membraneous capsule formation of the transplanted tumor. Conclusions: The afficacy of the group IL-2 dextran microsphere was superior to group of arterial infusion of dextran microsphere in outcoming with tumor necrosis and strengthening the immunity of the rabbits. (authors)