Brachytherapy with Iodine-125 seeds strand for treatment of main portal vein tumor thrombi: an experimental study in a rabbit model.

This study aims to establish an animal model of implanted main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) and to evaluate safety and efficacy of brachy therapy with Iodine-125 ((125)I) seeds strand to treat MPVTT of rabbit. VX2 tumor thrombus was implanted in main portal vein (MPV) of 32 New Zealand white rabbits. These rabbits were randomly divided into treatment group (Group T, T1-T16) and control group (Group C, C1-C16). (125)I seeds and blank seeds strand were implanted in MPV of rabbits in Group T and C, respectively. Changes of general condition, body weight and blood laboratory examination were monitored at every time point after procedure. 2 weeks later, 8 rabbits of each group were sacrificed for pathologic examination. The rest of rabbits were dissected postmortem, and therapeutic effects were evaluated on basis of multi-detector computed tomography and histopathology. Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI) and apoptosis index (AI) were compared between two groups. Overall survival period was recorded. At every time point after brachytherapy, more serious weight loss were detected in Group C. Results of liver function tests and blood cells counts showed no significant difference between two groups. Mean volume of tumor tissue within MPV were 565.40 ± 220.90 mm(3) in Group T and 2269.90 ± 437.00 mm(3) in Group C (P < 0.001). (Ki-67 LI) and AI were (4.14 ± 1.84)% and (6.51 ± 1.92)% in Group T, compared with (33.82 ± 6.07)% and (0.91 ± 0.26)% in Group C, respectively (P < 0.001). Media survival time of rabbits were 39.50 ± 2.37 days in Group T and 27.38 ± 1.22 days in Group C, respectively (P = 0.001). In conclusion, injecting and suspensory fixing VX2 tumor strip into MPV is a reliable method to establish MPVTT animal model. Brachytherapy with (125)I seeds strand was safe and effective to treat VX2 tumor strand inoculated in the MPV of rabbit.