Figure 1

The study procedure and major results. A: The flow chart of this study. Nude mice were kept for 3 d of adaptation, and orthotopic model of human HCC was constructed as described in the Materials and Methods section. On d 8, the animals were randomized into 3 groups, and treated by tail vein injection of normal saline, DOX and PDOX, respectively. At the study endpoint, all animals were euthanized, and detailed pathological studies. B: The general status of animals appeared best in the PDOX, better in DOX, and worst in Control that were only 8 animals because 2 nude mice died before the study endpoint due to excessive tumor burden. C: The body weight curves at different time points show similar changes in the PDOX and DOX. In Control, there was a progressive increase on the last 6 d, due to accelerated tumor growth and increased ascites. D-I: Representative MRI scans of the liver tumors in Control (D for T1 and E for T2), the DOX (F for T1 and G for T2) and the PDOX (H for T1 and I for T2) showed marked differences in tumor size. J: Both PDOX and DOX had similar and significant liver tumor growth inhibition compared with Control that 2 animals died on the morning of d 36, therefore only 8 tumors were available in the final picture presentation. K &L: PDOX and DOX treatments significantly reduced retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastases (arrows) compared with Control. M &N: The lung metastases (arrows) were also significantly reduced in the PDOX and DOX, and PDOX had greater inhibitory effect on lung metastases than. DOX. D: day; T1: T1-weighted image; T2: T2-weighted image; K &M: hematoxylin and eosin stain, 200×, scale bar = 50 μm.