Treatment of Xenografted Ovarian Carcinoma Using Paclitaxel-Loaded Ultrasound Microbubbles

  • Zhi Gang Wang, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Xing Wu, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Yong Zhang, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Yi Zheng, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Shan Xu, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Tao Ran, The Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China

    • Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the antitumor effects on mice xenografted ovarian carcinoma using the technique of ultrasound-mediated drug release from paclitaxel-loaded lipid microbubbles (PLMs).
    Methods Twenty-five ovarian cancer-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into five groups of five mice each. Each group received a unique kind of treatment once a day. These treatments were PLMs combined with ultrasound, intravenous paclitaxel administration, non-drug-loaded microbubbles combined with ultrasound, intravenous PLM administration, and normal saline administration (the control group). After 7 days of consecutive treatment, all mice were sacrificed, and their tumors were harvested to measure volumes and weights. The tumor inhibition rate was calculated by weight. Expressions of vascular ndothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining.
    Results Mean tumor volume and weight were the lowest in the first group (PLMs combined with ltrasound), so this group's tumor inhibition rate was the highest (P <0 .05). On immunohistology, VEGF and p53 expression levels were lowest (P<0.05) in the first group.
    Conclusion Ultrasound irradiation mediates PLM destruction so that the drug is released from the vehicles at the same time. It helps achieve targeted chemotherapy in tumor tissues. This technique has potential to be adopted as a novel tool for ovarian cancer chemotherapy.