ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to clarify whether hypo-fractionated radiation therapy combined with oxaliplatin can aggravate liver damage, in order to determine its safety for clinical application.MethodsEighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the chemotherapy treatment group, the radiation treatment group, and the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group. The rats' liver tissues were then collected for histological evaluation at the first, second, fourth, sixth, and eight week after irradiation. The tissues were histologically evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.ResultsHistological examination revealed swollen hepatocellular cells in the experimental groups, with visible liver degeneration and necrosis. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly different between the groups (F = 85.869 and 214.663; P < 0.001). The intra-group expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were also significantly different between each time point (F = 6.047 and 43.344;P < 0.05). Bax expression was significantly different between each group (F = 8.122; P < 0.05), although no inter-group differences were observed for Bcl-2 expression (F = 0.808; P > 0.05).ConclusionChemoradiotherapy may aggravate liver injury, possible via overexpression of Bcl-2 and reduced expression of Bax. Therefore, this treatment should be used carefully in the clinic.
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