High Efficacy of Pingxiao Capsule Combines with Docetaxel and Cisplatin Induction Chemotherapy on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Mice

Abstract

This study explored the effect of docetaxel and cisplatin on oral squamous cell carcinoma and its modulation by the traditional Chinese medicine Pingxiao capsule. To this end, CAL27 cells were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of the nude mice to produce solid tumors. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with docetaxel, cisplatin, Pingxiao capsule, cisplatin + docetaxel, cisplatin + Pingxiao capsule, docetaxel + Pingxiao capsule, or cisplatin + docetaxel + Pingxiao capsule, and the treatment outcomes were compared with control. The outcome measures included tumor size, mouse body weight, and tumor histopathology. The results revealed that a single dose of docetaxel, cisplatin, and Pingxiao capsules was effective in suppressing mice tumor volume and body weight, enhancing apoptotic index, and reducing proliferation index. However, the use of a combination of drugs had better effects than the use of any single drug. To conclude, the combination of docetaxel, cisplatin, and Pingxiao capsule has high efficacy in repressing tumor growth by repressing tumor cell proliferation and facilitating tumor cell apoptosis.