Asparagus polysaccharide and gum with hepatic artery embolization induces tumor growth and inhibits angiogenesis in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Ling-Ling Weng,Hao-Tao Zeng,Min-Guang Zhang,Jin-Bo Lin,Shang-Hui Yi,Yi-Sheng Li,Tao Chen,Dong-Wei Xin,Sheng-Ming Lin,Jian-Feng Xiang,Hai-Liang Zhao,Li-Tao Yang,Shu-Qi Qiu

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.24.10949

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of leading digestive malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies for this deadly disease. It has been proven that asparagus polysaccharide, one of the most active derivates from the traditional medicine asparagus, possesses notable antitumor properties. However, little is known about the efficacy of asparagus polysaccharide as an adjuvant for liver cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we reported that asparagus polysaccharide and its embolic agent form, asparagus gum, significantly inhibited liver tumor growth with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor model, while significantly inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. Moreover, asparagine gelatinous possessed immunomodulatory functions and showed little toxicity to the host. These results highlight the chemotherapeutic potential of asparagus polysaccharide and warrant a future focus on development as novel chemotherapeutic agent for liver cancer TACE therapy.

Highlights

Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide
We reported that asparagus polysaccharide and its embolic agent form, asparagus gum, significantly inhibited liver tumor growth with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor model, while significantly inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell apoptosis
Asparagus polysaccharide or Asparagus gum induces cell apoptosis in HCC tumor tissue We investigated the expression of cell apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 activation in HCC tumor tissues by Western blot analysis (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. An ideal embolic agent may need to own the following characteristics: excellent anti-cancer effect, low toxicity, improving liver function, and sound immunomodulatory function. These features are important for patients carrying hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer at the same times. Novel anti-tumor embolization agents are urgently needed for clinical cancer therapy. We systemically evaluated the toxicity and antitumor effect of Asparagus polysaccharide and Asparagus gel-like substance via intervention treatment on liver cancer using an orthotopic HCC tumorbearing rat model, to elucidate its chemotherapeutic potential of being development as novel chemotherapeutic agents for future liver cancer TACE therapy

Materials and Methods

Drugs and Dosage

Findings

Discussion