Evaluation of the impact of transient interruption of antiangiogenic treatment using ultrasound-based techniques in a murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma

BMC Cancer

Sara Marinelli²  Veronica Salvatore²  Marco Baron Toaldo¹  Maddalena Milazzo³  Luca Croci²  Laura Venerandi²  Anna Pecorelli²  Chiara Palamಠ Alessia Diana¹  Luigi Bolondi²  Fabio Piscaglia² 

[1] Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

[2] Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

[3] Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata, University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

关键词: Elastosonography;    Molecular contrast-enhanced ultrasonography;    Antiangiogenic treatment;    Hepatocellular carcinoma;   

Others  :  858715
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2407-14-403

 received in 2014-01-07, accepted in 2014-05-29,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Development of escape pathways from antiangiogenic treatments was reported to be associated with enhanced tumor aggressiveness and rebound effect was suggested after treatment stop. Aim of the study was to evaluate tumor response simulating different conditions of administration of antiangiogenic treatment (transient or definitive treatment stop) in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

Subcutaneous tumors were created by inoculating 5×10⁶ Huh7 cells into the right flank of 14 nude mice. When tumor size reached 5–10 mm, mice were divided in 3 groups: group 1 was treated with placebo, group 2 was treated with sorafenib (62 mg/kg via gavage) but temporarily suspended from day +5 to +9, whereas in group 3 sorafenib was definitively stopped at day +5. At day +13 all mice were sacrificed, collecting masses for Western-Blot analyses. Volume was calculated with B-mode ultrasonography at day 0, +5, +9, +11 and +13. VEGFR2-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound using BR55 (Bracco Imaging) was performed at day +5 and +13 and elastonosography (Esaote) at day +9 and +11 to assess tumor stiffness.

Results

Median growth percentage delta at day +13 versus day 0 was 197% (115–329) in group 1, 81% (48–144) in group 2 and 111% (27–167) in group 3. Median growth delta at day +13 with respect to day +5 was 79% (48–127), 37% (−14128) and 81% (15–87) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Quantification of targeted-CEUS at day +13 showed higher values in group 3 (509 Arbitrary Units AI, range 293–652) than group 1 (275 AI, range 191–494) and group 2 (181 AI, range 63–318) (p = 0.033). Western-Blot analysis demonstrated higher VEGFR2 expression in group 3 with respect to group 1 and 2.

Conclusions

A transient interruption of antiangiogenic treatment does not impede restoration of tumor response, while a definitive interruption tends to stimulate a rebound of angiogenesis to higher level than without treatment.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Marinelli et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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