Transcatheter arterial embolization with cisplatin: apoptosis in VX2 tumour uterus transplants

Effects of chemoembolization with cisplatin on gynecological malignancies were investigated using rabbit uterine tumour. 4 weeks after inoculation, the 35 rabbits were divided into 3 groups. In the experimental groups, the tumour tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, ApopTag stain and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) dye. In two days the Pt level of tumour tissue in the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) group was 1.97 times more than that in the intra-arterial (IA) infusion group (p < 0.001). Apoptotic index was 1.03% in the IA group versus 5.9% in the TACE (p < 0.001). The PCNA index was 86.6% in the IA group, compared with 8.6% in the TACE group (p < 0.001). Experiments reported here have revealed enhanced effects of the simultaneous action of nutrient restriction and increase concentration of drug caused by the vascular occlusion on cell death.