title: Inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin on liver metastases in a mouse colon cancer model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the expression of glactin-3 in liver metastasis of colon cancer and its inhibition by modified citrus pectin (MCP) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five Balb/c mice were randomly divided into negative control group (n = 15), positive control group (n = 15), low MCP concentration group (n = 15), middle MCP concentration group (n = 15) and high MCP concentration group (n = 15). CT26 colon cancer cells were injected into the subcapsule of mouse spleen in positive control group, low, middle and high MCP concentrations groups, except in negative control, to set up a colon cancer liver metastasis model. The concentration of MCP in drinking water was 0.0%, 0.0%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% (wt/vol), respectively. Liver metastasis of colon cancer was observed after 3 wk. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of galectin-3 in serum. Expression of galectin-3 in liver metastasis was detected by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except for the negative group, the percentage of liver metastasis in the other 4 groups was 100%, 80%, 73.3% and 60%, respectively. The number of liver metastases in high MCP concentration group was significantly less than that in positive control group (P = 0.008). Except for the negative group, the median volume of implanted spleen tumor in the other 4 groups was 1.51 cm(3), 0.93 cm(3), 0.77 cm(3) and 0.70 cm(3), respectively. The volume of implanted tumor in middle and high MCP concentration groups was significantly smaller than that in positive control group (P = 0.019; P = 0.003). The concentration of serum galectin-3 in positive control and MCP treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the negative control group. However, there was no significant difference between them. Except for the negative control group, the expression of galectin-3 in liver metastases of the other 4 groups showed no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of galetin-3 increases significantly in liver metastasis of colon cancer, which can be effectively inhibited by MCP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510095, Guangdong Province, China. gzdlhy@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei-Qun
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Nan-Rong
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002957:Citrus; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010368:Pectins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010368:Pectins