[Cytophotometric expressions of CASPASE-3 and CD-34 in breast cancer]

Effects of Jianpi Jiedu decoction on tumor growth and Caspase3 expression in HCT116/L-OHP colon cancer xenografts in nude mice

AIM: To observe whether Jianpi Jiedu decoction and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) have a synergistic effect on human colon cancer HCT116/L-OHP xenografts in nude mice and to explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS: A xenograft tumor model was established using L-OHP-resistant human colon cancer HCT116 cells in nude mice. Mice were randomly divided into a control group, a L-OHP group, a Jianpi Jiedu decoction group, a low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group, and a high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group. During the treatment process, the long and short diameters of tumors were measured to calculate tumor volume according to the formula and depict tumor growth curve. After treatment, the tumor weight was measured to calculate tumor inhibition rate and tumor weight inhibition rate. The expression level of Caspase 3 in tumor xenografts was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTS: Tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly lower in the high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (995.54 mm³ ± 87.26 mm³; 0.85 g ± 0.06 g) and low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (1318.32 mm³ ± 100.68 mm³; 1.06 g ± 0.07 g) than in the Jianpi Jiedu decoction group (1967.83 mm³ ± 178.83 mm³; 1.71 g ± 0.11 g) and L-OHP group (1698.46 mm³ ± 147.61 mm³; 1.56 g ± 0.12 g) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Tumor inhibition rate and tumor weight inhibition rate were significantly higher in the high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (55.63%; 56.85%) and low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (41.25%; 46.19%) than in the Jianpi Jiedu decoction group (12.30%; 13.20%) and L-OHP group (24.31%; 20.81%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP significantly increased the expression of Caspase3 protein in tumor xenografts in nude mice compared to other groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP can inhibit tumor growth of xenografts in nude mice and increase the efficacy of L-OHP possibly by up-regulating the expression of Caspase 3 to promote apoptosis.