[Influence of microencapsulated ovary cells modified with maspin gene on the microvessel density and lung metastasis of breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibition of maspin on the angiogenesis in tumor and lung metastasis of breast carcinoma and the feasibility of treatment of tumor by microencapsulated transgene cells in vivo.

METHODS: Microencapsulated Chinese hamster ovarian epithelial cells (CHO) modified with maspin gene, CHO/pcDNA3.1/maspin cells, were prepared. Twenty BALB/C nude rats underwent subcutaneous injection of breast carcinoma cells of the line Bcap37 to establish tumor-loaded animal models and then randomly divided into 2 groups: maspin group, undergoing subcutaneous injection of CHO/pcDNA3.1/maspin cells next to the transplanted tumor, and control group undergoing subcutaneous injection of microencapsulated CHO/pcDNA3.1 cells. One month later, the rats were killed and the size and microvessel density (MVD) of the transplanted tumor and metastatic tumor in lung were observed.

RESULTS: The MVD of the transplanted tumor of the maspin group was 26 +/- 9, significantly lower than that of the control group (60 +/- 16, P < 0.05). The lung metastatic rate of the maspin group was 15%, significantly lower than that of the control group (55%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Maspin may inhibit the MVD in tumor and the occurrence of metastatic tumor in lung. It is feasible to use microencapsulated transgene cells as tumor-killer.