Introduction: Having a proper human cancer model, which is large and similar to a real model, is an important issue to evaluate hypotheses. We designed a study to induce liver cancer in rabbits, through access to the hepatic artery from the auricular artery using interventional radiology without immunosuppressors.

Method(s): A total of 10 adult rabbits were selected. After proper anesthesia, they fixed in a supine position. After scrubbing: (1 )the auricular artery was punctured with a 22-G micro introducer needle. (2) The flexible end of the guidewire was inserted into the auricular artery through the needle. (3) 22-G micro-introducer needle was pulled out and the guide wire was slowly inserted into the micro-catheter from the hard end. (4) After locating in the liver, guide wire was slowly withdrawn from microcatheter. (5) HEPG2 cells were injected.

Result(s): After 10 to 14 days, in eight animals, liver cancer was observed at the site of cell injection in the liver, confirmed with MRI, which showed rapid washout. In addition, tumor markers and liver enzymes increased in them. In two cases, animals died because of lung cancer which was confirmed by autopsy.

Conclusion(s): By this method without immunosuppressive drugs and inducing cancer by operation, we can use interventional radiology to create a large cancer model for the first time. The success rate was 80%.