title: Topical treatment with Tong-Luo-San-Jie gel alleviates bone cancer pain in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The herbal analgesic gel Tong-Luo-San-Jie (TLSJ) and its modifications are used in traditional Chinese medicine to manage cancer pain. However, its mechanisms are still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects and mechanisms of TLSJ gel on bone cancer pain in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A bone cancer pain rat model was established by inoculating Walker 256 rat carcinoma cells directly into the right tibial medullary cavity of Sprague-Dawley rats (150-170 g); Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) tibial inoculation was used as control. Cancer-bearing rats were treated twice a day with external TLSJ gel (0.5 g/cm(2)/day) or inert gel control for 21 day (n=10/group). Behavioral tests such as mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were carried out. Osteoclastic activities were determined and carboxyterminal pyridinoline cross-linked type I collagen telopeptides (ICTP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) concentrations were detected with ELISA after treatment. Adverse effects were monitored, and biochemical and histological tests were performed in naïve rats treated with local TLSJ gel for six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLSJ treatment significantly restored bone cancer-induced decrease of PWL and mechanical threshold compared to inert gel. It also decreased the level of blood serum ICTP and BAP and inhibited osteoclast activities. No adverse effects or abnormal biochemical and histological changes were detected after TLSJ treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that TLSJ significantly inhibits bone cancer-induced thermal and mechanical sensitization. It suggests that the gel may be useful in managing cancer pain and that it may act by inhibiting osteoclastic activity.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725, South Wanping Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Juyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ruixin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jiyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi Liang
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Mao Ying
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Lixing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lao
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005782:Gels; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase