EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON ADRIAMYCIN ALBUMIN NANOPARTICLES GUIDED BY 131I-LABELLED ALPHA-FOETOPROTEIN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THROUGH RABBIT HEPATIC ARTERY IN THE TREATMENT OF LIVER CANCER

Xiang You, Zhengyu Lin^*, Yiping Chen, Zhongwu Chen, Jin Chen

Department of Interventional Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China

Objective: To investigate the effect of 131I-labelled alpha-foetoprotein monoclonal antibody-directed Adriamycin albumin nanoparticles (131I anti-AFP mAb DOX BSA NP) on liver cancer. 

Methods: A total of 60 VX2 tumour-bearing rabbits with liver tumours measuring 2-3 cm were selected and divided into group A, group B, and group C. Group A rabbits were administered 3 ml normal saline via hepatic artery perfusion (TAI), group B with 3 ml Na131I solution TAI, and group C with 3 ml Na131I anti-AFP mAb-DOX-BSA-NP solution TAI. Serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured with an automatic biochemical analyser. The maximum longitudinal diameter (a) of experimental rabbit tumours in each group was measured by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The apoptotic index (AI) of tumour tissues in each group was detected by nick-end nucleoside labelling (TUNEL). Micro-vessel density (MVD) was observed with microscopy, and hypoxia inducible factor 1 was detected by Western blot α (HIF-1 α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression. 

Results: The concentrations of ALT and AST in group B and group C were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of ALT and AST in group A, group B, and group C at 7 days (P>0.05). At 7-14 days, the maximum tumour diameter of experimental rabbits in group B and C was significantly lower than that in group A, and that in group C was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.05). The AI of experimental rabbit tumour tissue in group C was significantly higher than that in group A, and the AI of experimental rabbit tumour tissue in group C was significantly higher than that in group B (P<0.05). The MVD of experimental rabbit tumour tissue in group C was significantly lower than that in group A, and group B (P<0.05). HIF-1 α and VEGF protein concentrations in group C experimental rabbits were significantly lower than those in group A and group B (P<0.05). 

Conclusions: 131I anti-AFP mAb-DOX-BSA-NP significantly inhibited the growth and metastasis of liver cancer and demonstrated clear anticancer effects.