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The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy has shown great promise in eradicating tumors. For example, 125I radioactive particle implantation and cytokine-induced killer cell therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the mechanism of this combination therapy remains unknown. In this study, we utilized cytokine-induced killer cells obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells along with 125I radioactive particle implantation to treat subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft tumors in BALB/c nude mice. The effects of combination therapy on tumor growth, tumor cell apoptosis and proliferation, animal survival, and immune indexes were then assessed. The results indicated that 125I radioactive particle implantation combined with cytokine-induced killer cells shows a much greater antitumor therapeutic effect than either of the therapies alone when compared to control treatments. Mice treated with a combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy displayed significantly reduced tumor growth. 125I radioactive particle implantation upregulated the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and enhanced cytokine-induced killer cell-mediated apoptosis through activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, cytokine-induced killer cells supplied immune substrates to induce a strong immune response after 125I radioactive particle implantation therapy. In conclusion, 125I radioactive particle implantation combined with cytokine-induced killer cell therapy significantly inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vivo and improves animal survival times through mutual promotion of antitumor immunity, presenting a promising therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy has shown great promise in eradicating tumors. For example, 125I radioactive particle implantation and cytokine-induced killer cell therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the mechanism of this combination therapy remains unknown. In this study, we utilized cytokine-induced killer cells obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells along with 125I radioactive particle implantation to treat subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft tumors in BALB/c nude mice. The effects of combination therapy on tumor growth, tumor cell apoptosis and proliferation, animal survival, and immune indexes were then assessed. The results indicated that 125I radioactive particle implantation combined with cytokine-induced killer cells shows a much greater antitumor therapeutic effect than either of the therapies alone when compared to control treatments. Mice treated with a combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy displayed significantly reduced tumor growth. 125I radioactive particle implantation upregulated the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and enhanced cytokine-induced killer cell–mediated apoptosis through activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, cytokine-induced killer cells supplied immune substrates to induce a strong immune response after 125I radioactive particle implantation therapy. In conclusion, 125I radioactive particle implantation combined with cytokine-induced killer cell therapy significantly inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vivo and improves animal survival times through mutual promotion of antitumor immunity, presenting a promising therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

To study the changes in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1α, HIF2α) in the residual tumor cells in nude mice bearing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).Thirty nude mice bearing human HCC received treatment with HIFU. At 1, 3, and 5 days and 1 and 2 weeks after the treatment, the mice were examined for pathological changes of the residual tumor with HE staining; SP immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of HIF1α and HIF2α in the tumor.HE staining revealed the presence of residual tumor cells and large necrotic areas after the treatment. Immunohistochemistry showed a gradual increment of HIF1α protein and mRNA expressions after the treatment, reaching the peak level at 3 days (P0.05) followed by progressive reduction at 5 days and 1 and 2 weeks. HIF2α expressions at either the protein or mRNA levels exhibited no significant changes within 3 days after the treatment (P0.05) but increased significantly at 5 days and 1 and 2 weeks (P0.05).The changes of HIF1α and HIF2α in the residual tumor after HIFU treatment in nude mice bearing HCC can be associated with tumor cell apoptosis and angiogenesis after the treatment.

Background High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a widely applied to treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, insufficient HIFU can result in rapid progression of the residual tumor. The mechanism of such rapid growth of the residual tumor after HIFU ablation is poorly understood. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic angiogenesis of residual tumor, and the temporal effect and mechanism of the HIF-1, 2α in the residual tumor angiogenesis. Methods Xenograft tumors of HepG2 cells were created by subcutaneously inoculating nude mice (athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice) with hepatoma cells. About thirty days after inoculation, all mice (except control group) were treated by HIFU and assigned randomly to 7 groups according to various time intervals (1st, 3rd, 5th day (d) and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th week (w)). The residual tumor tissues were obtained from the experimental groups at various time points. Protein levels of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, VEGF-A, and EphA2 were quantified by immunohistochemistry analysis and Western Blot assays, and mRNA levels measured by Q-PCR. Microvascular density was calculated with counting of CD31 positive vascular endothelial cells by immunohistochemical staining. Results Compared with the control group, protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α reached their highest levels on the 3rd day (P