title: Chitosan oligosaccharides in combination with Agaricus blazei Murill extract reduces hepatoma formation in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency.
abstract: Chitosan and Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) extracts possess antitumor activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chitosan, ABM extract or the two in combination were effective against tumors in tumor‑bearing mice. The mice were subcutaneously injected with SK-Hep 1 cells and were then were divided into the following six groups: Group 1, control group; group 2, chitosan 5 mg/kg/day; group 3, chitosan 20 mg/kg/day; group 4, ABM (246 mg/kg/day) and chitosan (5 mg/kg/day) combined; group 5, ABM (984 mg/kg/day) and chitosan (20 mg/kg/day) combined; and group 6, ABM (984 mg/kg/day). The mice were treated with the different concentrations of chitosan, ABM or combinations of the two for 6 weeks. The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tissue histopathological features were examined in the surviving animals. Based on the results of the investigation, the treatments performed in groups 2, 3 and 4 were identified as being capable of reducing the weights of the tumors, however, group 4, which was treated with chitosan (5 mg/kg/day) in combination with ABM (246 mg/kg/day) was able to reduce the levels of GOT and VEGF. As a result, treatment with chitosan in combination with ABM may offer potential in cancer therapy and requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Ming-Yang
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Defense Medical Center, Division of Clinical Pathology, Tri‑Service General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hung-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsu-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Defense Medical Center, Division of Clinical Pathology, Tri‑Service General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jin-Biou
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Jen‑Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 356, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ching Cheng High School, Changhua 500, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Wan-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, I‑Shou University, Kaohsiung 840, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Lung-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000364:Agaricus / Q000737:chemistry; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D048271:Chitosan; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase