Objective: To establish a xenotransplantation model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its role in precision medical treatment of HCC.
Methods: The PDX model was established by subcutaneous inoculation of tumor tissue from NCG mice with fresh resected liver cancer specimens. The morphological structure of transplanted tumor tissue was compared with that of tumor tissue from patients with HE staining. The PDX model successfully passed to the third generation was used to prepare tumor cell suspension, and BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated to make 15 models of transplanted liver cancer. After tumorigenesis, they were randomly divided into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group, sorafenib group and negative control group, with 5 in each group. Regularly monitor the tumor volume and weight of tumor bearing mice in each group, calculate the tumor inhibition rate according to the tumor weight, and evaluate the efficacy.
Results: Six PDX models of liver cancer were established in this study, with a success rate of 33.3% (6/18). The model maintained the characteristics of primary tumors. In one PDX model, the tumor inhibition rates of 5-FU and sorafenib groups were 63.7% and 29.6%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the tumor inhibition rates of 5-FU group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the tumor inhibition rates of sorafenib group, which was consistent with the clinical results.
Conclusion: The PDX model of liver cancer can maintain the tissue morphology of tumor tissue, and can be used for precise medical treatment of liver cancer patients.