Donafenib-Loaded Callispheres Beads Embolization in a VX2 Liver Tumor: Investigating Efficacy, Safety, and Improvement of Tumor Angiogenesis After Embolization

Abstract

Tongqiang Li,1,2,* Qin Shi,1,2,* Jiacheng Liu,1,2,* Yingliang Wang,1,2 Chen Zhou,1,2 Chaoyang Wang,1,2 Shuguang Ju,1,2 Songjiang Huang,1,2 Chongtu Yang,1,2 Yang Chen,1,2 Yaowei Bai,1,2 Bin Xiong1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bin XiongDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: To investigate the efficiency and safety of callispheres beads loaded with donafenib (DCBs) for embolization in a VX2 liver tumor, as well as the improvement of tumor angiogenesis following embolization.Methods: Forty New Zealand white rabbit VX2 liver tumors were treated with four different drugs via the hepatic artery: NS (normal saline), CB (blank callispheres beads), ACB (adriamycin-loaded callispheres beads) and DCB (DCBs). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess tumor necrosis, while MRI was employed to detect the changes in tumor size. The safety was evaluated by the liver and kidney function parameters, and the immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining were performed to reflect the tumor hypoxia and tumor angiogenesis following embolization.Results: The DCB group had the smallest tumor growth rate, but the tumor necrosis rate was the highest of the four groups. Compared to the CB and ACB groups, the DCB group did not aggravate the liver damage and had no influence on kidney function. The staining results showed that, although the tumor hypoxia deteriorated after DCBs embolization, the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) reduced, thus inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.Conclusion: DCB administration via hepatic artery is an effective and safe treatment for a preclinical liver cancer model, with the unique benefit of suppressing tumor angiogenesis following embolization.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, donafenib, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, tumor angiogenesis, efficacy, safety

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• donafenib
• transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
• tumor angiogenesis
• efficacy
• safety;