Ultrasound imaging in orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma models - Promise, practicality, and points for refinement

Sep 28, 2026

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Ultrasound imaging in orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma models is evaluated in a letter format that reviews a protocol for longitudinal tumor growth monitoring in a syngeneic orthotopic rat model of HCC. The approach is praised for reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, ethical alignment, and strong correlation between ultrasound-based volumes, terminal histology, and therapeutic response. Key limitations include operator dependence and potential accuracy loss with heterogeneous tumor morphology, plus limited generalizability due to use of a single rat hepatoma cell line (N1S1). Recommended refinements focus on standardized training, multimodal validation, and exploration of diverse tumor settings, including emerging imaging modalities and automated segmentation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Core Tip

Editorial Letter Content

Experimental Approach and Analytics

| W | J | H | World Journal of
Hepatology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Submit a Manuscript: [https://www.f6publishing.com](https://www.f6publishing.com) World J Hepatol 2025 December 27; 17(12): 115551 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v17.i12.115551 ISSN 1948-5182 (online) LETTER TO THE EDITOR Ultrasound imaging in orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma models: Promise, practicality, and points for refinement Devlina Ghosh, Alok Kumar Specialty type: Gastroenterology and hepatology Provenance and peer review: Invited article; Externally peer reviewed. Peer-review model: Single blind Peer-review report’s classification Scientific Quality: Grade B, Grade C Novelty: Grade C, Grade C Creativity or Innovation: Grade C, Grade C Scientific Significance: Grade B, Grade C P-Reviewer: Wu SZ, MD, Professor, China Received: October 20, 2025 Revised: October 27, 2025 Accepted: November 24, 2025 Published online: December 27, 2025 Processing time: 67 Days and 23.8 Hours Devlina Ghosh, Department of Biochemistry, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow 226028, Uttar Pradesh, India Alok Kumar, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226024, Uttar Pradesh, India Corresponding author: Devlina Ghosh, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, 233 Tiwariganj, Ayodhya Road, Lucknow 226028, Uttar Pradesh, [India.](India. ghoshdevlin6@gmail.com)[ ghoshdevlin6@gmail.com](India. ghoshdevlin6@gmail.com) Abstract The study by Devan et al presents an ultrasound-based protocol for monitoring tumor growth in a syngeneic orthotopic rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) . This approach is commendable for its reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with ethical imperatives, particularly in reducing the need for invasive assessments. The strong correlation of ultrasound-based volumes with histology and therapeutic response highlights its translational promise. However, certain considerations merit further discussion. Ultrasound imaging, while accessible, is inherently operator-dependent, and its accuracy may decline with irregular or heterogeneous tumor morphology. Moreover, the exclusive reliance on the rat hepatoma cell line (N1S1) cells raises questions about generalizability to other HCC models with differing immune interactions. Future refinements should standardize training protocols, incorporate multimodal validation, and explore diverse tumor settings. Despite these limitations, the study provides a useful approach, and its broader integration could democratize preclinical oncology research, especially in resource-constrained environments. Key Words: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Ultrasound imaging; Histology; Tumor growth monitoring; Tumor volumetry ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. WJH [https://www.wjgnet.com](https://www.wjgnet.com) 1 December 27, 2025 Volume 17 Issue 12 Ghosh D et al. Ultrasound monitoring in preclinical HCC Core Tip: High frequency ultrasound is a rapid, low-cost, minimally invasive tool for serial volumetric monitoring of orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma that correlates well with terminal histology and can match micro computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for gross tumor size, but it lacks cellular resolution and remains operatordependent. To increase translational impact, future work should standardize acquisition and training, perform multimodal validation in subset cohorts (histology, micro CT/MRI), and adopt contrast-enhanced/photoacoustic imaging, along with automated radiomics/artificial intelligence segmentation to reduce bias and improve sensitivity. Citation: Ghosh D, Kumar A. Ultrasound imaging in orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma models: Promise, practicality, and points for refinement. World J Hepatol 2025; 17(12): 115551 URL: [https://www.wjgnet.

FAQs

What protocol is discussed for monitoring orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma tumors?

An ultrasound-based protocol is reviewed for longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth in a syngeneic orthotopic rat model of HCC, using high-frequency ultrasound for volumetric assessment.

What advantages does the document highlight for ultrasound-based tumor monitoring?

It emphasizes reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, minimal invasiveness, ethical alignment with reduced invasive endpoints, and strong correlation with terminal histology and therapeutic response.

What limitations and refinement points are identified?

The document notes operator dependence and possible accuracy decline with irregular or heterogeneous tumor morphology, questions about generalizability from a single cell line (N1S1), and recommends standardizing training, using multimodal validation, and exploring diverse tumor settings.

Sep 28, 2026

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