Experimental Research Of Percutaneous Ethanol With Different Concentration Injection (PEI) On Hepatic VX₂ Tumor Of Rabbits

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacies of percutaneos intratumoural injection of ethanol with different concentration (PEI) in rabbits bearing liver tumors. Methods: Newland rabbits were implanted VX₂ tumor tissue into their livers to establish tumoral models in the comparative experiment for different concentrations of ethanol. 36 single-lesion models were divided into 4 groups randomly and 9 rabbits in each group. The model of group A received normal saline injected in the tumor foci. The tumor foci in the group B, group C, group D were performed PEI with 50%, 75% and absolute ethanol(dose according Y=2.885X ) respectively. The change of the reaction and the function of hepatic and kidney were observed after PEI in different periods. The changes of tumor size and pathology were observed after21days. Results: In the comparative experiment for different concentrations of ethanol, intoxation was found in all treated animals within 1 day after PEI, but obviously in group D. It relieved gradually after 3 days in most of the animals. Hepatic function was obvious damaged in group B and group C 1 day after PEI, and recovered 7 days later. However, both hepatic and renal function damage occurred in group D 1 day after PEI, and only renal function recovered 7 days later. There was no significant difference in tumor growth rates between control group and 50% ethanol group after 14 days, but significant differences were found with other groups. Compared with group A and B, group C and D had significant higher tumor necrotic rates, and no significant difference was found between group C and D. Therefore, the results in this study showed that 75% ethanol would be suitable for PEI. Conclusion: PEI is an effective tumor ablation therapy or method for small HCCs. Ethanol can produce coagulating and desiccating action on protein, corroding and solubilizing tissues and cells, damaging membranate structure of cells. The effective of PEI is related to the dose and concentration of ethanol. High-dose ethanol can cause damage to live and kidney. 75% ethanol may be more suitable for small HCCs.