Temperature-sensitive liquid embolic agent loaded with Lobaplatin in the TACE procedure for rabbit VX2 liver tumor

To investigate the efficacy of a temperature-sensitive liquid embolic (TempSLE) agent loaded with lobaplatin for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in a rabbit VX₂ liver tumor model. Rabbit VX₂ liver tumor models were randomly divided into four groups: control, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), conventional TACE (C-TACE) with lipiodol, and experimental TACE (T-TACE) with TempSLE. Tumor volume, serum and intratumoral concentrations of lobaplatin (LBP), and serum levels of ALT, AST, and CREA were analyzed. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for PCNA, BCL-2, and HIF-1, as well as immunofluorescence (IF) staining for P53, cyclin B, and PD-L1, were evaluated. On postoperative day 7, tumor volumes were 5.17 ± 0.45 cm3 in the control group and 3.37 ± 0.22 cm3 in the HAIC group, which constituted a significant difference. No contrast enhancement was observed in the C-TACE and T-TACE groups, indicating complete tumor necrosis. On postoperative day 3, serum LBP concentration was significantly higher in the cTACE group than in the HAIC and T-TACE groups. By day 7, there were no intergroup differences in serum LBP. At both 3 and 7 days post-procedure, intratumoral LBP concentration was highest in the T-TACE group and lowest in the HAIC group. IHC and IF analyses revealed that T-TACE significantly down-regulated the expression of PCNA and BCL-2, but up-regulated HIF-1. Furthermore, T-TACE down-regulated cyclin B and P53 expression, while up-regulating PD-L1. This study demonstrates that TACE using TempSLE loaded with lobaplatin shows more favorable modulation of proliferation, apoptosis markers, and PD-L1 expression in tumor treatment.