Open Access

Pro-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potent anti-cancer activity in vitro impedes tumor inhibitory potential in vivo

  • Authors:
    • Lei Xia
    • Maksym Plachynta
    • Tangjingjun Liu
    • Xiao Xiao
    • Jialei Song
    • Xiaogang Li
    • Mu Zhang
    • Yao Yao
    • Heng Luo
    • Xiaojiang Hao
    • Yaacov Ben‑David
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 24, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2016.1059
  • Pages: 717-723
  • Copyright: © Xia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Medicinal formulas are a part of the complex discipline of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries in China and East Asia. These formulas predominantly consist of the extracts isolated from herbal plants, animal parts and medicinal minerals. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of 150 formulas, used as non‑prescription drugs in China, on the treatment of cancer. A formula was identified, C54, commonly used to treat sore throats, which exhibited marked growth inhibition in vitro, associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Cytotoxicity was, in part, due to the ability of C54 to inhibit the expression and function of the transcription factor, Fli‑1, leading to marked inhibition of leukemic cell growth in tissue culture. However, when injected into a model of leukemia initiated by Fli‑1 activation, C54 only exhibited a limited tumor inhibition. C54 also did not suppress xenograft growth of the breast cancer cell line, MDA‑MB‑231, orthopedically transplanted into the mammary fat pad of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Notably, splenomegaly and accumulation of inflammatory CD11b+/Gr1+ monocytes were observed in the tumors and spleens of C54‑treated mice. As inflammation is known to accelerate tumor progression, this immune response may counteract the cell‑autonomous effect of C54, and account for its limited tumor inhibitory effect in vivo. Combining C54 with an anti‑inflammatory drug may improve the potency of C54 for treatment of certain cancers. The present study has highlighted the complexity of Chinese medicinal compounds and the need to thoroughly analyze their systemic effects at high concentrations in vivo.
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December-2016
Volume 5 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 2049-9450
Online ISSN:2049-9469

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Xia L, Plachynta M, Liu T, Xiao X, Song J, Li X, Zhang M, Yao Y, Luo H, Hao X, Hao X, et al: Pro-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potent anti-cancer activity in vitro impedes tumor inhibitory potential in vivo. Mol Clin Oncol 5: 717-723, 2016
APA
Xia, L., Plachynta, M., Liu, T., Xiao, X., Song, J., Li, X. ... Ben‑David, Y. (2016). Pro-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potent anti-cancer activity in vitro impedes tumor inhibitory potential in vivo. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 5, 717-723. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2016.1059
MLA
Xia, L., Plachynta, M., Liu, T., Xiao, X., Song, J., Li, X., Zhang, M., Yao, Y., Luo, H., Hao, X., Ben‑David, Y."Pro-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potent anti-cancer activity in vitro impedes tumor inhibitory potential in vivo". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 5.6 (2016): 717-723.
Chicago
Xia, L., Plachynta, M., Liu, T., Xiao, X., Song, J., Li, X., Zhang, M., Yao, Y., Luo, H., Hao, X., Ben‑David, Y."Pro-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula with potent anti-cancer activity in vitro impedes tumor inhibitory potential in vivo". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 5, no. 6 (2016): 717-723. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2016.1059