Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of paclitaxel temperature-responsive gel (PTRG) for interstitial chemotherapy on breast cancer, and to explore a new minimally invasive treatment for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast cancer models were induced in rats using subcutaneous transplantation of tumor cells. The rats were then divided into control, paclitaxel injection, gel injection and paclitaxel-gel (PG) group. Following treatment, all animals were checked regularly by ultrasonography to observe changes in the tumors. Biopsy tumor tissues were processed for histopathological examination, and apoptotic index was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling method. In addition, blood cell count and liver transaminase activity were monitored, and the survival time of rats with cancer recorded. RESULTS: Rats in PG group exhibited liquefaction necrosis of tumors. Ninety days after the experiment, four rats exhibited complete extinction of tumors, indicating full recovery. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor tissues in these rats were mostly necrotic, and the apoptotic index of tumor cells increased markedly compared to PI group. Also, the red blood cell, hemoglobin and white blood cell levels declined significantly in the PI group compared with PG group, while glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase activities significantly increased. Meanwhile, no toxicity due to treatment was observed in PG group. CONCLUSION: Interstitial chemotherapy mediated by PTRG appeared to be a safe and effective treatment for breast cancer in rats. It might have clinical applications for treating human breast cancer.