Efficacy of Ciji Hua'ai Baosheng formula on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor, kinase insert domain-containing receptor and basic fibroblast growth factor in mouse models of H22 hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of Ciji Hua' ai Baosheng formula (CHBF) on microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in serum and tumor tissue of mice receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of H22 hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODSSixty Kunming mice were injected subcutaneously with H22 hepatoma carcinoma cell suspensions into the right anterior armpit. Seven days later, all transplanted tumor were formed and the mice were intraperitoneally injected 200 mg/kg cytoxan (CTX) to establish the models of tumor-bearing mouse chemotherapy, then they were randomly divided into model group, continuing CTX chemotherapy group (CTX group), and three CHBF (117, 58.5 and 29.25 g/kg) groups. After ten days of treatments, histology was observed, contents of VEGF, KDR and bFGF in serum and tumor tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), VEGF and bFGF protein expression and MVD tagged by CD34 were detected by immunohistochemisty. RESULTSMVD in CHBF (117, 58.5 g/kg) and CTX groups was significantly lower than that in model group (P < 0.01); expressions of VEGF, KDR and bFGF in serum and tumor tissue in CHBF (117 g/kg) group were less than those in model group (P < 0.05; P < 0.01); the expressions of MVD, VEGF and bFGF in tumor tissue of CHBF (117 g/kg) group were also less than those in CTX group (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONCHBF can effectively reduce the expression of VEGF, KDR and bFGF in serum and tumor tissue, and decrease MVD and delay tumor progression.