[Targeting study of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using human HCC model in nude mice]

Fifty-three nude mice bearing human HCC were used for targeting study of HCC using 131I-antihuman HCC isoferritin IgG. Of these mice, 17 were used for radioimaging with 131I-labeled IgG, 131I-labeled albumin and 131NaI. In labeled IgG group, all tumors were positively visualized by gamma camera with the best imaging on the 7th day after injection of labeled IgG (200 microCi, ip), the tumor/liver radioactivity ratio being 2.7. The dose of tumor radioactivity at the 7th day was 7-10 times higher than that in labeled albumin group. Thirty-six mice were used for the study of radioimmunotherapy with 131I-labeled IgG, 131NaI and IgG (n = 9, 300 microCi/50 micrograms, ip). The tumor inhibition rate in the labeled IgG group at 4th week after treatment was significantly higher than those of the other groups (81%, 60% and 18%, respectively, P less than 0.05). Tumor cell DNA analysis showed that the tumor cells were inhibited in S stage of the cell cycle. In the same way, five kinds of substances with affinity to HCC were studied in this animal model. The result indicates that the transplantable nude mice-human HCC model is acceptable for targeting study of HCC.