OBJECTIVESTo study the inhibition effect of Daltepartin Sodium (low molecular weight heparins) on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nude mice.

METHODSMetastatic model of HCC was established in nude mice. The model mice were randomly divided into 4 groups; they were the control group (saline solution), chemotherapy group (fluorouracil and Cis-dichlorodiamine platinum), Daltepartin Sodium group (Daltepartin Sodium), combined treatment group (Daltepartin Sodium and chemotherapy). Tumor sizes, tumor inhibition rates, tumor metastases, intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), CD31 and AFP were evaluated.

RESULTSIn comparison with the control and the chemotherapy group, the tumor sizes of the Daltepartin Sodium and the combined treatment group were significantly smaller; the tumor inhibitor rates were 0% versus 93.6%, 76.7%, 78.0%; MVD were 20.7+/-6.8 versus 18.2+/-2.6, 4.8+/-1.8 and 6.5+/-2.4; CD31 were 31.8+/-5.7 versus 25.5+/-5.1, 21.6+/-4.8 and 19.6+/-2.4; The incidence of liver metastasis was 80%, versus 70%, 20% and 10%; lung metastasis was 70% versus 60%, 20% and 10%; the peritoneal metastasis was 90% versus 60%, 30%and 30%. AFP were 121.8 ng/ml+/-31.4 ng/ml versus 21.5 ng/ml+/-13.3 ng/ml, 75.6 ng/ml+/-29.7 ng/ml and 55.8 ng/ml+/-38.0 mg/ml. Inhibiting effects of growth and metastasis of HCC in chemotherapy, Daltepartin Sodium and combined treatment groups were significantly different from those of the control group (F=9.191, P < 0.01), Daltepartin Sodium inhibited the angiogensis in the tumors more effectively than that in the control and chemotherapy groups (F=4.937, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDaltepartin Sodium can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis in our nude mice HCC model.