Primary liver tumor growth rate in ligated and non-ligated hepatic lobe in animal mode after portal vein ligation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate tumor growth in different lobes of the liver after portal vein ligation (PVL) in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Twenty-seven male rats were equally divided into 3 groups.Nine non HCC rats served as a control (group A).Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced in 18 rats (group B,C).PVL was performed in group A and group C.Sham operations were performed in group B.The hepatic lobe and tumor volume changes were tested with positron emission tomography (PET) scans in different time after PVL.Results The volume of tumors in the ligated lobes of group C were significantly larger than that of the group B after PVL,[ (54.90 ±32.17) mm3 vs (28.41 ±11.04) mm3,P＜0.05].However,there was no significant difference in the non-ligated lobes (P＞0.05 ).Conclusion PVL can progress tumor growth in the ligated lobe in the HCC animal model,but not in the non-ligated lobe. Key words: Portal vein ligation; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Positron emission tomography