title: Modified Yi Guan Jian, a Chinese herbal formula, induces anoikis in             Bel-7402 human hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro.
abstract: Liver cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. Liver YIN deficiency             is a common clinical syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine in liver cancer.             Yi Guan Jian is an ancient classic liver YIN tonifying herbal formula used for             the treatment of liver disease with liver YIN deficiency, which is also currently             used for liver cancer treatment. However, as an ancient formula, Yi Guan Jian             (YGJ) is not entirely suitable for liver cancer treatment. In the present study,             we optimized the prescription of YGJ according to the current principles of Chinese             herbal medication, and evaluated the anticancer effects of modified Yi Guan Jian             (MYGJ) in Bel-7402 human hepatocarcinoma cells. The results show that MYGJ inhibited             the growth of Bel-7402 cells in adherent or in suspension cultures, and was more             effective in Bel-7402 cells in suspension. MYGJ also inhibited anchorage-independent             growth of Bel-7402 cells in soft agar. MYGJ induced anoikis in Bel-7402 cells             accompanied by caspase-3, -8 and -9 activation, which was blocked by the pan-caspase             inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK. Furthermore, MYGJ inhibited the expression and phosphorylation             of p38 MAPK in Bel-7402 cells. These findings suggest that MYGJ is sufficient             to induce caspase-mediated anoikis in Bel-7402 cells in vitro, and may be associated             with down-regulation of p38 MAPK. The present study also provides insight into             the application of ancient Chinese herbal formulas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai 200032, PR China. beearhu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Ke-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D023102:Anoikis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016710:Yin Deficiency
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C569476:modified yi guan jian; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020169:Caspases