The Experimental Study Of Iodine 125 Radioactive Pancreatic Duct Stents In The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of the radioactive stents in animals and the effects of intratumoral implantation of iodine 125 on pancreatic carcinoma.Methods Different doses of radioactive stents were implanted in pig's pancreatic ducts by endoscopy. Blood tests were conducted after implantation and the pigs were euthanized in batch.Tissues obtained from pacreas and its surrounding organs were examined. Different doses of iodine 125 radioactive seeds were implanted in pancreatic carcinoma xenografts transplanted in BALB/c nude mice (n=32).Tumor volumes were measured and tumor control rates were calculated.Tumor tissues were obtained to processed for pathology examination,TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry for PCNA and VEGF. Results and Conclusions The radioactive stents were implanted in normal porcine pancreatic ducts successfully.During the follow-up period ,no severe complications occurred. Iodine 125 suppressed the growth of pancreatic carcinoma xenografts and tumor control rate increased with the doses. Iodine 125 can induce tumor necrosis and apoptosis and implantation of iodine 125 radioactive seeds in transplanted pancreatic cancer can decrease the express level of PCNA and VEGF in the tumor tissues.