Inhibitory effect of low molecular weight heparin on the growth and metastasis of human mammary carcinoma cells implanted in nude mice

Abstract

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on the growth and metastasis of breast cancer (BC) cells in the MCF-7 nude mice models.Methods BC models were successfully established in 120 nude mice by implanting human MCF-7 cells,and randomly divided into 4 groups:chemotherapy group,LMWH group,endocrine group and normal saline (NS) group.During 4 weeks of treatment,the general physical state of the nude mice and the development of the tumors were observed.After 28 days,the model mice were sacrificed by taking off the cervical vertebra,and the pathological changes of the samples were observed and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)and microvessel density(MVD)in the tumor samples was detected by immunohistochemicalmethod respectively.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and MVD in chemotherapy group,LMWH group and endocrine group were significantly lower than those in NS group(P<0.01),and they were superior to NS group in the aspects of tumor volume,chest wall erosion and lymph node metastasis.Among all these groups,the expression levels of VEGF and MVD in LMWH group were decreased markedly,but there Was no statistically significant difference.Conclusion LMWH Can inhibit the growth and metastasis of BC in the MCF-7 nude mice models. Key words: Breast carcinoma; Low molecular heparin; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Angiogenesis