Berberine inhibits human tongue squamous carcinoma cancer tumor growth in a murine xenograft model.
Our primary studies showed that berberine induced apoptosis in human tongue cancer SCC-4 cells in vitro. But there is no report to show berberine inhibited SCC-4 cancer cells in vivo on a murine xenograft animal model. SCC-4 tumor cells were implanted into mice and groups of mice were treated with vehicle, berberine (10mg/kg of body weight) and doxorubicin (4mg/kg of body weight). The tested agents were injected once per four days intraperitoneally (i.p.), with treatment starting 4 weeks prior to cells inoculation. Treatment with 4mg/kg of doxorubicin or with 10mg/kg of berberine resulted in a reduction in tumor incidence. Tumor size in xenograft mice treated with 10mg/kg berberine was significantly smaller than that in the control group. Our findings indicated that berbeirne inhibits tumor growth in a xenograft animal model. Therefore, berberine may represent a tongue cancer preventive agent and can be used in clinic.
Ho
Yung-Tsuan
YT
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yang
Jai-Sing
JS
Lu
Chi-Cheng
CC
Chiang
Jo-Hua
JH
Li
Tsai-Chung
TC
Lin
Jen-Jyh
JJ
Lai
Kuang-Chi
KC
Liao
Ching-Lung
CL
Lin
Jaung-Geng
JG
Chung
Jing-Gung
JG
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001599:Berberine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028142:Berberis / Q000737:chemistry; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems; D027343:Rhizome; D031610:Tinospora / Q000737:chemistry; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide