A novel therapeutic strategy using ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction to treat colon cancer in a mouse model

Abstract The goal of this study was to determine whether ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction (UMMD) could inhibit colon cancer growth in a mouse model. Six-week-old balb/c female nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with HT29-GFP cells (HT29 cells labeled with green fluorescent dye) in axilla to establish a xenograft mouse model of colon carcinoma, which were randomly divided into five groups ( n  = 10 each): group A (blank group): no treatment; group B (saline only); group C (saline + ultrasound exposure); group D (intravenous microbubbles only); and group E (intravenous microbubbles + ultrasound exposure). Treatment of each group was performed on days 20, 21, and 22 after inoculation. Tumor growth and metastatic spread were monitored by the whole-body fluorescent imaging, tumor volume growth and body weight growth curve were obtained as well. The mice were euthanized 30 days after treatment. Specimens of the tumor tissues were evaluated pathologically using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Necrosis percentages, microvascular density and tumor cells damage of each tumor were assessed histologically. Our data indicate that: (1) tumor growth in group E (intravenous microbubbles + ultrasound exposure) was significantly decreased after four weeks post inoculation, compared with other control treatments ( P