title: High expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatoma cell line-B2 (EphB2) predicts the efficiency of the Qingyihuaji formula treatment in pancreatic cancer CFPAC-1 cells through the EphrinB1-EphB2 pathway.
abstract: Our previous study demonstrated that inhibition of erythropoietin-producing hepatoma cell line-B2 (EphB2) expression resulted in the promotion of cancer growth, with EphB2 acting as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer. Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ), a traditional Chinese medicine, acts as an independent protective factor for pancreatic cancer patient survival and different patients have shown various responses to QYHJ treatment. In the current study, the different effects on tumor growth inhibition following QYHJ treatment in cells with different levels of EphB2 expression were investigated to reveal the mechanism. A subcutaneously transplanted tumor model using cancer cells with different levels of EphB2 expression were establishedin vivoand received a four-week QYHJ intervention. Tumor weight inhibitory rate and tumor volume deflation were evaluated. The cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to assess mRNA and protein levels. The results showed that the tumor weight inhibitory rate was 31.40, 31.33 and 18.36% in CFPAC-1, CFPAC-1 control RNAi and CFPAC-1 EphB2 RNAi cells following QYHJ treatment, respectively. A statistically significant difference was identified in CFPAC-1 (P<0.05) and CFPAC-1 control RNAi (P<0.01) cells. In addition, a statistically significant increase was identified in the G0/G1 phase population (P<0.05) and a statistically significant decrease was identified in the S phase population (P<0.05) in CFPAC-1 and CFPAC-1 control RNAi cells; however, no significant difference was identified in the CFPAC-1 EphB2 RNAi cells following QYHJ treatment. QYHJ upregulated the mRNA and protein level of Eph receptor-interacting B1 (EphrinB1) in the cells that were expressing different levels of EphB2, however, QYHJ did not regulate EphB2 expression. In CFPAC-1 and CFPAC-1 control RNAi cells, the QYHJ treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) mRNA (P<0.05) and protein (P<0.05) levels. The high expression of EphB2 predicted the superior response rate to the QYHJ treatment through a mechanism of inhibiting the cell cycle by an EphrinB1-EphB2-induced CDK6 decrease in CFPAC-1 cells. Therefore, EphB2 acts as a predictive factor for QYHJ treatment in pancreatic cancer CFPAC-1 cells.
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Yong-Qiang
authors: YQ
authors: Hua
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Zhi-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Meng
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. China.
authors: Jian-Gang
authors: JG
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Wang
authors: W
authors: Peng
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Ye-Hua
authors: YH
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Integrative Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
authors: Lu-Ming
authors: LM
authors: Liu
keywords: Qingyihuaji formula; erythropoietin-producing hepatoma cell line-B2; pancreatic cancer; predictive factor