BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant tumor has gradually increased. How to improve the survival and quality of life of patients who lose the opportunity for surgery or who are unwilling to receive surgery remains an obstacle. At present, 125I particle interstitial implant therapy has been applied in a variety of treatments of tumors. However, the mechanism of computed tomography (CT)-guided 125I particle therapy in lung cancer has not been fully elucidated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 42 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed between January 2013 and December 2013, including 19 patients who received CT-guided 125I particle therapy and 23 patients who received chemotherapy. Curative effect and adverse reactions at 6 months and 12 months were compared and analyzed. A rabbit lung cancer VX2 model was treated by 125I particle implantation therapy under CT guidance. The change in tumor volume was detected. Tumor cell apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry. Bcl-2 and Bax expression were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot.

RESULTS: 125I particle therapy obviously reduced tumor volume after 6 months and 12 months. It showed significantly higher efficiency (57.9%, 57.9%) and control (78.9%, 73.7%) than the rates of efficiency and control in the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). 125I particle implantation therapy markedly suppressed rabbit VX2 transplanted tumor cell proliferation, promoted tumor regression, induced tumor cell apoptosis, reduced Bcl-2 expression, and upregulated Bax expression level (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided 125I particle implantation therapy can inhibit tumor proliferation and growth by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins, which is a promising approach in lung cancer treatment.

Keywords: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology, Iodine Radioisotopes, Lung Neoplasms - pathology, RNA, Messenger - metabolism, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Tumor Burden, bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism