The in vivo Therapeutic Effect of Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn, Xiaoyaosan) on Mice with 4T1 Cell Induced Breast Cancer Model.
In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of a classical TCM formula, Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn), in a breast cancer mouse model induced with estrogen-insensitive breast cancer 4T1 cells. Ovariectomized Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks) or sham mice were injected into the fourth mammary fat pad with 4T1 cells in which tumors were palpable 7 days after injection. On the eighth day, the mice were divided into 4 groups and tubefed daily with vehicle, Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) formula or tamoxifen for 28 days. Tumor growth inhibition and the decrease of the average tumor mass were most evident in mice treated with Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn). Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) treatment significantly reduced Bcl-2 and elevated Bax and p53 protein expressions in breast cancer tumor. These results were further confirmed by immunohistochemisty. Tamoxifen could decrease spleen mass and Bcl-2 protein expression, increase the Bax protein expression as well as exert uterotrophic effects by increasing uterus index and inducing the gene expressions in the uterus. Taken together, these results show that Free Wanderer Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) treatment induced apoptosis at protein level and inhibited the tumor growth in 4T1-induced ovariectomized Balb/c female mice, indicating the possibility of its future use for treatment of estrogen-insensitive breast caner.
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China ; Department of Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, PR China.
Wen-Fang
WF
Chen
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Li
L
Xu
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Chung-Him
CH
Yu
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Chui-Kwan
CK
Ho
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Ka
K
Wu
Department of Health and Technology Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Gina Cw
GC
Leung
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
Man-Sau
MS
Wong
Free Wanderer Powder (逍遙散 xiāo yáo sǎn; Xiaoyaosan); 4T1 cells; Breast cancer; Balb/c mice