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Effect of ethanol induced occlusion of the renal artery in rabbit kidney implanted with VX2 carcinoma
S Imai1, Y Kajihara, S Nishishita
1Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Abstract:
The effects of injection of absolute ethanol into the renal artery were investigated in 13 rabbit kidneys previously implanted with VX2 carcinoma. Eight rabbits with implanted tumors served as controls. The effects were evaluated by angiography and histology. Three days after implantation, tumors were demonstrated by angiography as relatively hypovascular areas in the subcapsular cortex of the kidneys. Following angiography, absolute ethanol (0.3 ml/kg) was injected into the renal artery. Repeat angiography with barium sulphate was performed after an additional 3 days (10 ethanol treated animals, 2 controls), 10 days (2 treated, 1 control) or 14 days (1 treated, 0 control). In treated animals the tumors were markedly smaller in comparison with those of the control group. The occlusion procedure, however, did not completely eradicate tumor cells. The histologic study of the implanted tumor confirmed the findings previously reported that viable tumor cells still remained in the peripheral portions of infarcted areas. This study demonstrated the beneficial, though not curative, short-term effects of transcatheter renal artery treatment with absolute ethanol in malignant renal tumors.
Insights
Transcatheter renal artery treatment with absolute ethanol effectively reduced VX2 carcinoma tumor size in rabbit kidneys. While beneficial short-term, this ethanol injection therapy was not curative, with residual tumor cells noted.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Interventional Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Renal tumors present a significant clinical challenge.
- Transcatheter arterial embolization is an established treatment modality for various tumors.
- Absolute ethanol is a potent sclerosant agent with potential for tumor ablation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of transcatheter renal artery ethanol injection for VX2 renal tumors in rabbits.
- To evaluate the short-term effects of this interventional procedure on tumor size and viability.
Main Methods:
- VX2 carcinoma was implanted into rabbit kidneys.
- Absolute ethanol was injected into the renal artery of treated rabbits.
- Angiography and histology were used to assess tumor response.
Main Results:
- Ethanol-treated tumors were significantly smaller than control tumors.
- Angiography showed reduced vascularity in treated tumors.
- Histology confirmed residual viable tumor cells in peripheral infarcted areas.
Conclusions:
- Transcatheter renal artery ethanol injection demonstrates beneficial short-term effects in reducing malignant renal tumor size.
- The procedure is not curative, as evidenced by persistent viable tumor cells.
- Further research into optimizing this treatment for complete tumor eradication is warranted.