A study of the biological characteristics of human hepatoma xenografts in nude mice after irradiation

Abstract: Cell growth kinetics and changes in AFP in nude mice with human hepatoma xenografts were evaluated using the flow cytometry method. After receiving 10 Gy of radiation, the mice showed a marked delay in tumor growth; approximately 1 Gy of radiation caused a tumor growth delay of one day. Irradiation altered various phases of the cell cycle. An acute and temporary block of G2 cells was characteristic; FCM measurements demonstrated that about 58% of cells were blocked in the G2 phase and this blocking effect lasted 90 hours after an irradiation of 10 Gy. This indicated that human hepatoma xenografts in nude mice were quite sensitive to irradiation. It was also noted that the AFP decreased for 96 hours after irradiation. Changes in G2 cells after irradiation may be closely related to changes in AFP.