Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 combined with cyclophosphamide on growth and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Ginsenoside Rg3, the main component isolated from ginseng, inhibits some kinds of tumour growth and angiogenesis. The combination of low dose chemotherapy and antiangiogenesis inhibitors suppresses growth of experimental tumours more effectively than conventional therapy. The effect of this combination on ovarian cancer remains to be evaluated. Therefore, we investigated the synergism of ginsenoside Rg3 and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on growth and angiogenesis of human ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-eight female athymic mice were divided randomly into 4 groups of 7: ginsenoside Rg3, CTX, ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX combination and control, after being transplanted with ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3). The mice were given intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX for the 10 days following inoculation of SKOV-3 cells. The life quality and number of living days of mice were recorded. The size of tumour, tumour inhibitive rate, life elongation rate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index (PCNALI), expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) of the tumour tissues were estimated.


RESULTS
Life quality of mice in ginsenoside Rg3 and combined treatment groups were better and number of living days longer than control. Average tumour weights of each treated group were less than control and there was no significant difference among the treated groups. PCNALI of treated groups was lower than control. The MVD value and VEGF expression in treated groups were significantly lower than control and the MVD values of ginsenoside Rg3 and combined treatment groups were lower than that of CTX group.


CONCLUSIONS
Ginsenoside Rg3 significantly inhibited growth and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer when used alone or combined with CTX. Ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX combination reinforced the antitumour effect each other and improved the living quality and survival time of mice with tumour.
Xu
Tian-min
TM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.
Xin
Ying
Y
Cui
Man-hua
MH
Jiang
Xin
X
Gu
Li-ping
LP
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D036145:Ginsenosides; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3; D003520:Cyclophosphamide