4:03 PM Abstract No. 319 Development and use of the common woodchuck as a model for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Define the utility of woodchucks as a model for development and evaluation of image-guided interventional therapies for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All studies were conducted under a research protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Woodchuck chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) develop neoplasms similar to human HCCs associated with hepatitis B. Woodchucks with and without HCC underwent preoperative CT and US. A 3F introducer sheath was placed in the femoral artery and diagnostic angiography performed via 1.7-2.8F microcatheters. Following superselective catheterization, embolization of arteries supplying HCC tumors was performed to stasis with radiopaque beads (70-150um, Biocompatibles UK LTD) that had been loaded with doxorubicin at 37.5 mg/mL wet bead volume. Following embolization, CBCT, post mortem microCT, and specimen radiography were performed. Tissue was prepared for histopathology and visualization of doxorubicin distribution. Preoperative CT demonstrated single or multifocal hypervascular tumors with varied areas of necrosis, confirmed by superselective catheterization and angiography. Tumors were successfully embolized with post-mortem demonstration of vascular filling with radiopaque beads on CBCT, microCT and specimen radiography. Histology showed beads present within the vasculature. These data may help guide future studies of HCC therapies. Additional research is needed to refine the methods and validate the model; however, a more predictive HCC model than previously described would be valuable for translational medical research.