MR Imaging-Based In Vivo Macrophage Imaging to Monitor Immune Response after Radiofrequency Ablation of the Liver.

Purpose: To establish molecular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging instruments for in vivo characterization of the immune response to hepatic radiofrequency (RF) ablation using cell-specific immunoprobes.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two C57BL/6 wild-type mice underwent standardized hepatic RF ablation (70 °C for 5 minutes) to generate a coagulation area measuring 6-7 mm in diameter. CD68 macrophage periablational infiltration was characterized with immunohistochemistry 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after ablation (n = 24).

Impact of Chemoembolic Regimen on Immune Cell Recruitment and Immune Checkpoint Marker Expression following Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in a VX2 Rabbit Liver Tumor Model.

Purpose: To characterize the effects of commonly used transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) regimens on the immune response and immune checkpoint marker expression using a VX2 rabbit liver tumor model.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four VX2 liver tumor-bearing New Zealand white rabbits were assigned to 7 groups (n = 3 per group) undergoing locoregional therapy as follows: (a) bicarbonate infusion without embolization, (b) conventional TACE (cTACE) using a water-in-oil emulsion containing doxorubicin mixed 1:2 with Lipiodol, drug-eluting embolic-TACE with either (c) idarubicin-eluting Oncozene microspheres (40 μm) or (d) doxorubicin-eluting Lumi beads (40-90 μm). For each therapy arm (b-d), a tandem set of 3 animals with additional bicarbonate infusion before TACE was added, to evaluate the effect of pH modification on the immune response.

Molecular MRI of the Immuno-Metabolic Interplay in a Rabbit Liver Tumor Model: A Biomarker for Resistance Mechanisms in Tumor-targeted Therapy?

Background The immuno-metabolic interplay has gained interest for determining and targeting immunosuppressive tumor micro-environments that remain a barrier to current immuno-oncologic therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Purpose To develop molecular MRI tools to reveal resistance mechanisms to immuno-oncologic therapies caused by the immuno-metabolic interplay in a translational liver cancer model. Materials and Methods A total of 21 VX2 liver tumor-bearing New Zealand white rabbits were used between October 2018 and February 2020.

Preclinical Benefit of Hypoxia-Activated Intra-arterial Therapy with Evofosfamide in Liver Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate safety and characterize anticancer efficacy of hepatic hypoxia-activated intra-arterial therapy (HAIAT) with evofosfamide in a rabbit model.

Experimental Design: VX2-tumor-bearing rabbits were assigned to 4 intra-arterial therapy (IAT) groups (n = 7/group): (i) saline (control); (ii) evofosfamide (Evo); (iii) doxorubicin-lipiodol emulsion followed by embolization with 100-300 μm beads (conventional, cTACE); or (iv) cTACE and evofosfamide (cTACE + Evo). Blood samples were collected pre-IAT and 1, 2, 7, and 14 days post-IAT.

Advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis: conventional versus drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Objectives: Our study sought to compare the overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal venous thrombosis (PVT), treated with either conventional trans-arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) or drug-eluting beads (DEB) TACE.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included a total of 133 patients, treated without cross-over and compared head-to-head by means or propensity score weighting. Mortality was compared using survival analysis upon propensity score weighting.