OBJECTIVETo observe the hepatic injury following stop- flow chemotherapy and investigate the potential mechanisms.

METHODSTwelve healthy hybrid female pigs were randomly divided into two groups as stop- flow group (SF) and stop- flow chemotherapy (SFC) group. The expression of IL- 8 and ICAM- 1 mRNA in hepatic biopsies was detected by RT- PCR, and the expression of NF- kappa B P65 subunit in nuclei was assessed by Western blot analysis. The levels of ALT and AST, and histopathologic alterations were examined to evaluate the hepatic function at different time before and after stop- flow procedure.

RESULTSThe expression of NF- kappa B P65 subunit, IL- 8 and ICAM- 1mRNA increased at 30 min after stop- flow procedure, and gradually decreased at 3 h and 6 h after stop- flow procedure. The levels of ALT and AST decreased after reaching the peak at 24 h after stop- flow procedure, but removed one week after stop- flow procedure. Cytoplasmic microvascular steatosis developed with appreciable neutrophils infiltration after early stop- flow procedure without significant destroy occurred in the structure of hepatic lobule. No significant difference of various parameters above occurred between SF and SFC groups.

CONCLUSIONThe hepatic injury following stop- flow procedure was self-limited and reversible. There is no severe destroy of hepatic structure and disfunction during stop- flow chemotherapy.