Purpose: To evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) on metastatic bone tumors in an experimental study.
Methods: Fifteen Japanese white rabbits were transplanted with VX2 sarcoma cells into the iliac crest. In 10 rabbits, the arterial supply to the iliac bone tumors, internal iliac artery and iliolumbar artery were then embolized with particles of gelatin sponge. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by comparison with the natural course of control tumors in the other five rabbits.
Results: After TAE, extensive necrosis, fibrosis, and vacuolization within the tumors were confirmed histologically. In the control rabbits, 19% +/- 7% of the entire tumor was found to be spontaneous tumor necrosis; in contrast, the tumors of the TAE group showed necrosis as 62% +/- 22% of the entire tumor. In one TAE group rabbit, no active tumor cell could be detected in the residual tumor.
Conclusion: TAE was found to be an effective treatment for bone tumors in an experimental model.