Abstract:

Objective To establish the xenogenous implant model of human renal cell carcinoma in nude mice, and observe the inhibition effect of different doses of sorafenib on the growth of tumor. Methods Tumor-bearing nude mouse models were developed by subcutaneous implantation of Caki-1 cells into BALB/c mice, and were evaluated by small animal fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) one week after implantation. Eighteen tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into control group, low-dose sorafenib group and high-dose sorafenib group, with 6 mice in each group. Thirty-five days after Caki-1 implantation, mice were sacrificed, the body weight of mice and volumes and weight of tumors were measured, and the histological changes of tumors were observed. Another three similar groups were set up, with 5 mice in each group, and the survival of nude mice were compared in the expected observation duration of 100 d. Results The uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. Compared with control group, the tumor growth in lowdose sorafenib group and high-dose sorafenib group was significantly inhibited, and there were significant differences in the volumes and weight of tumors among groups (P<0.05). The body weight of nude mice in high-dose sorafenib group was significantly lower than that in control group and lowdose sorafenib group (P<0.05). The survival of nude mice in low-dose sorafenib group and high-dose sorafenib group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Small animal ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can be used in evaluation of growth of renal carcinoma cells in host, and sorafenib can significantly inhibit the growth of renal carcinoma cells in xenogenous implant model of human renal cell carcinoma in nude mice.

Key words: renal cell carcinoma, nude mice, sorafenib, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, small animal