Objective: The aim of this study is to observe apoptotic changes of tumor cells in mice with the solid tumor S180 after interstitial irradiation with 32P glass microspheres.
Methods: Twenty mice with solid tumor S180 were divided into four groups. The control group was given normal saline. The experimental groups were given different doses of 32P glass microspheres (50, 150, 450uci per mouse) using interstitial implant. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to determine the apoptotic cells.
Results: The mean values of the apoptotic indexes of these groups were respectively 0.39, 0.41, 0.59 and 0.95. The apoptotic indexes of the second and the third experimental groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The interstitial irradiation with 32P glass microspheres can enhance the activity of apoptotic cells of solid tumor S180, and the effect is dose-dependent.