Inhibitory effects of diallyl trisulfide on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats after orthotopic liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) on the growth of hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)after orthotopie liver transplantation(OLTx)in rats. Methods Twenty-four rats bearing subcutaneous xenograft HCC after OLTx were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group,the DATS group Ⅰ(DATS 1 mg/kg every day) and DATS group Ⅱ(DATS 5 mg/kg every day). The effects of DATS on the growth of the tumor were evaluated after 2 weeks,including the tumor size and weight. Fluorescent quantitation ploymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of vascular en-dothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2)mRNA. The effects of DATS on the liver and kidney in rats were assayed by biochemical methods. Results DATS inhibited the growth of HCC in rats after OLTx. Tumor size : the control group(0. 78±0.25)cm3, DATS group Ⅰ (0.42±0.17) cm3 ,and DATS group Ⅱ (0.38±0.21)cm3 (P 0.05 ). Conclusion DATS can inhibit the growth of HCC in rats af-ter OLTx without side effects in vivo by suppressing the expression of VEGF mRNA and MMP-2 mRNA inHCC. Key words: Diallyl trisulfide; Carcinoma,hepatocellular; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Matrix metalloproteinase