Generating Rabbit Liver Carcinoma Model: A Surgical Procedure to Implant Tumor Tissue in Left Lobe of Liver for Induction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Source: Khabbaz, R. C. et al. Development and Angiographic Use of the Rabbit VX2 Model for Liver Cancer. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)

In this video, we demonstrate the surgical implantation of tumor tissue into a rabbit liver to induce hepatocellular carcinoma. The procedure helps establish a reliable animal model to study tumor behavior and development of locoregional treatments targeting cancers of the liver.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Liver Tumor Implantation via Laparotomy

1. Prepare the recipient rabbit for laparotomy. Anesthetize the recipient rabbit using 45 mg/kg ketamine and 5 mg/kg xylazine for induction followed by intubation and maintenance with 1%–3% isoflurane as needed. When the rabbit is anesthetized, shave the surgical site using hair clippers. Clean the incision area using triplicate wash with betadine scrub, 70% ethanol solution, and betadine solution, and drape the abdomen in a sterile surgical....

Results

Figure 1: Exposed xiphoid process. Skin and underlying muscle have been reflected to allow for visualization of the xiphoid process (black arrow) and gut (white arrow). The white star denotes the cranial direction.

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Hair Clippers	Wahl	41870-0438
Ketamine	Henry Schein	56344
Xylazine	Akorn	59399-110-20
Curved Hemostat	WPI	501288
Atraumatic Forceps	Sklar	52-5077
Gauze	Medline	NON21430LF
15-Blade	Steris	02-050-015
11-Blade	Steris	02-050-011
Surgicel	Ethicon	1951
3-0 PDS/Taper	Ethicon	Z305H
4-0 Vicryl/Cutting	Ethicon	J392H