Ultrasound-mediated microbubbles destruction for treatment of rabbit VX2 orthotopic hepatic tumors

The aim of this study was to determine whether ultrasound (US) mediated microbubbles (MBs) destruction (UMMD) could inhibit VX2 orthotopic hepatic tumor growth in rabbit models. Twenty-four VX2 orthotopic hepatic tumor rabbit models were randomly divided into four groups (n  =  6 each): saline group, SonoVue alone group, US alone group, US + SonoVue group. Tumor volume (TV), peak intensity (PI) of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in US + SonoVue group were significantly lower than that in other groups after treatment (P < 0.05, for all). Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissue showed that microvascular density (MVD) in US + SonoVue group was significantly lower than that in other groups (P < 0.05, for all). Extensive interstitial hemorrhage, intravascular thrombosis, destroyed nucleus membrane, mitochondria vacuolation and chromatin condensation were observed in US + SonoVue group, whereas these changes were rarely appeared in other groups. Our study indicated that UMMD could inhibit the growth of VX2 hepatic tumors in rabbits by irreversible destroying tumor microvessel and tumor cells.