title: Effects of ulinastatin and docataxel on breast tumor growth and expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of Ulinastatin (UTI) and docataxel (Taxotere, TAX) on tumor growth and expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells were cultured in vitro and injected into nude mice to establish breast tumor xenografts in vivo. Cultured cells and mice with tumors were randomly divided into four groups for treatment with TAX, UTI, and TAX+UTI. The effects of these drug treatments on cell proliferation and apoptosis was measured using the MTT assay and the Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining method, respectively. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α expression levels were determined by measuring mRNA transcripts in cultured cells by RT-PCR and cytokine proteins in solid tumors using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UTI, TAX, and UTI+TAX inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and tumors in vivo. These two drugs, particularly when used in combination, promote tumor cell apoptosis and down-regulate the expression IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α cytokines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both UTI and TAX inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells. UTI enhanced the inhibitory effect of TAX by a mechanism consistent with the down-regulated expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast, Pancreas, and Thyroid Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong District, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D043823:Taxoids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000077143:Docetaxel; C028665:urinastatin