O. Ishiko et al., Effect of cyclic plasma perfusion on apoptosis regulatory proteins in primary tumors of VX2-carcinoma-bearing rabbits, INT J ONCOL, 19(2), 2001, pp. 325-329
Although the mechanism of cancer cachexia is unknown, in previous studies w
e reported that cyclic plasma perfusion through non-coated charcoal was eff
ective in preventing cancer cachexia. In the present study we investigated
the effect of cyclic plasma perfusion on VX2 carcinoma. Sixteen tumor-beari
ng rabbits were divided into two groups: i) a group subjected to cyclic pla
sma perfusion (n=8, group PP) and ii) a group subjected to sham-perfusion (
n=8, group SP), and changes in body weight, tumor size, and morphological f
indings were investigated. Body weight loss and tumor growth were significa
ntly suppressed in group PP. The tumor cells in group PP showed apoptosis a
nd a high Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the survival rate was significantly higher t
han in group SP. These results suggest that cyclic plasma perfusion is effe
ctive not only in preventing cancer cachexia but in suppressing tumor growt
h and improving outcome.