Rabbit VX2 Tumors as an Animal Model of Uterine Fibroids and for Uterine Artery Embolization
Received 11 August 2006; received in revised form 7 January 2007; accepted 8 January 2007.
Purpose
To determine the suitability of the rabbit VX2 tumor animal model for uterine fibroids and uterine artery embolization (UAE).
Materials and Methods
The authors implanted and grew one uterine VX2 tumor per rabbit in six rabbits. UAE was performed by using 100–300 μm embolic particles and confirmed with x-ray digital subtraction angiography, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and necropsy. Unenhanced and contrast medium–enhanced MR images of VX2 tumors were obtained before and after UAE. Relative MR signal-to noise-ratio (SNR) was measured in the uterine VX2 tumor and in normal uterine tissue before and after UAE and compared by using a paired t-test (P = .05).
Results
VX2 uterine tumors were successfully grown, and both VX2 tumor presence in the uterus and UAE were seen angiographically and confirmed with necropsy in all six rabbits. Statistically significant reductions in relative SNRs were measured in tumors (SNR before UAE, 15.3 ± 5.15; SNR after UAE, 3.84 ± 3.94; P < .0001). No statistically significant decrease in SNR was measured in normal uterine tissue before and after UAE (P = .63 for the right uterine horn and P = .93 for the left uterine horn).
Conclusion
Rabbit VX2 uterine tumors may be a suitable animal model of uterine fibroids and UAE.
aDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St Clair St, Ste 800, Chicago, IL 60611.
bDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St Clair St, Ste 800, Chicago, IL 60611.
Address correspondence to R.K.R.
None of the authors has identified a conflict of interest. R.A.O. was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grant K08 DK60020. T.P. and G.E.W. were supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants CA81375, CA73042, and NS 21442. Supported in part by an unrestricted gift from Terumo, Inc. Contents of this manuscript were presented at 2006 SIR 31st Annual Scientific Meeting.
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