Pre-conditioning cryosurgery: cellular and molecular mechanisms and dynamics of TNF-α enhanced cryotherapy in an in vivo prostate cancer model system

Cryobiology. 2010 Dec;61(3):280-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Oct 20.

Abstract

Cryosurgery is increasingly being used to treat prostate cancer; however, a major limitation is local recurrence of disease within the previously frozen tissue. We have recently demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), given 4h prior to cryosurgery can yield complete destruction of prostate cancer within a cryosurgical iceball. The present work continues the investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms and dynamics of TNF-α enhancement on cryosurgery. In vivo prostate tumor (LNCaP Pro 5) was grown in a dorsal skin fold chamber (DSFC) on a male nude mouse. Intravital imaging, thermography, and post-sacrifice histology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess iceball location and the ensuing biological effects after cryosurgery with and without TNF-α pre-treatment. Destruction was specifically measured by vascular stasis and by the size of histologic zones of injury (i.e., inflammatory infiltrate and necrosis). TNF-α induced vascular pre-conditioning events that peaked at 4h and diminished over several days. Early events (4-24 h) include upregulation of inflammatory markers (nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM)) and caspase activity in the tumor prior to cryosurgery. TNF-α pre-conditioning resulted in recruitment of an augmented inflammatory infiltrate at day 3 post treatment vs. cryosurgery alone. Finally, pre-conditioning yielded enhanced cryosurgical destruction up to the iceball edge at days 1 and 3 vs. cryosurgery alone. Thus, TNF-α pre-conditioning enhances cryosurgical lesions by vascular mechanisms that lead to tumor cell injury via promotion of inflammation and leukocyte (esp. neutrophil) recruitment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryosurgery / methods
  • Cryotherapy / methods*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha