Subrenal capsule assay using liver cancer specimens obtained by fine needle biopsy

Twenty-seven liver cancer biopsies (20 hepatocellular carcinomas, 4 metastatic liver cancers and 3 cholangiocellular carcinomas) were obtained using a 21-gauge fine needle biopsy guided by ultrasonography. These cancers were subcutaneously transplanted to the subrenal capsular region of BDF1 mice premedicated with immunosuppressive agents to modulate the host immune reaction. The SRCA was based on the change in tumor size (delta TS) and the tumor growth inhibition rate (TGIR). The transplantation rate of the 27 liver cancer specimens was 85% by delta TS and 67% by TGIR. The efficacy rates of Adriamycin, cis-platinum, and mitomycin were respectively 71%, 58%, and 43% by delta TS, and 73%, 56% and 50% by TGIR. Thus, liver cancer specimens obtained by fine needle biopsy and examined by SRCA had a fairly high transplantation rate, and this method can be useful for patients with inoperable liver cancer, as a general chemosensitivity test for anticancer drugs.