The experimental study of radionuclide imaging and treatment of cervical cancer mediated by hNIS gene transfection

Objective: To explore the feasibility of imaging and treatment of cervical cancer xenograft model using 131I mediated by hNIS gene transfection. Methods: The cervical cancer xenograft models were established with Hela-NIS( +) cells and Hela cells, respectively. Five Hela-NIS(+) xenograft models and five Hela xenograft models were dynamically imaged at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 20 h postinjection of 131I (7.4 MBq). Five Hela-NIS(+) xenograft models were imaged at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 20 and 25 h postinjection of 99TcmO4- (11.1 MBq). Twenty Hela-NIS(+) cervical cancer xenograft models were randomly divided into four groups: Three 131I treating groups and one control group. The therapeutic effects of 131I at three levels (74, 111, 148 MBq) were investigated following intraperitoneal injection. Results: Hela-NIS(+)human cervical cancer xenografts were established successfully in nude mice. The Hela-NIS(+) xenografts significantly accumulated radioactivity after intraperitoneal injection of 131I, and the radioactivity was persistently present until 20 h postinjection, but Hela xenografts had no radioactive accumulation. The T/B value of the Hela-NIS(+) xenografts reached 17.34 at 8 h postinjection. The imaging with 99TcmO4- showed that the radioactivity was persistently present in Hela-NIS(+) xenografts for almost 25 h. The Hela-NIS(+)xenografts shrinked after 131I treatment. The inhibition ratios of tumor growth in 111 MBq and 148 MBq groups were both significantly higher than that of 74 MBq group (t: 2.74-5.75, P<0.05). Conclusions: Hela-NIS(+) cervical cancer xenografts in nude mice could persistently accumulate 131I and 99TcmO4- and could be treated successfully with 131I. 131I treatment mediated by hNIS gene transfection could be a promising cancer treatment method. (authors)