Enhancement of Antitumor Activity of Low-Dose 5-Fluorouracil by Combination With Fuzheng-Yiliu Granules in Hepatoma 22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

Abstract

Objective. The adverse effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are well recognized. Fuzheng-Yiliu granule (FYG) is capable of enhancing the immune function and suppressing tumor growth. In the present study, the authors evaluated if FYG could synergize with low-dose 5-FU in inhibiting tumor growth. Methods. Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with FYG (18 g/kg, ig), 5-FU (10 mg/kg, ip), or 5-FU plus FYG for 5 days. The relative tumor proliferation rates, tumor weight and apoptosis of tumor tissue were measured. White blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte (LY) were counted. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) in the serum were measured. Results. FYG alone had antitumor effect. Combination of 5-FU and FYG produced a more potent antitumor effect and caused more marked apoptosis in tumor tissue (compared with vehicle, P < 0.01; compared with 5-FU or FYG, P < 0.05). Mice treated with 5-FU plus FYG had higher thymus index (P < 0.05) compared with the vehicle group. The numbers of both WBC and LY were decreased by 5-FU (compared with vehicle, P < 0.01), which was significantly reversed after FYG was administered (5-FU + FYG vs 5-FU, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). Mice receiving FYG alone or FYG plus 5-FU had higher serum levels of TNF-a (P <0.01) compared with the vehicle. Conclusions. Traditional Chinese medical herbs capable of strengthening the body's vital energy have great potential to be used as an adjuvant therapy for cancer patients who cannot tolerate the adverse effects of chemotherapy.

NOD-scidIl2rg tm1Wjl and NOD-Rag1 null Il2rg tm1Wjl : A Model for Stromal Cell–Tumor Cell Interaction for Human Colon Cancer

“…Non-tumor-bearing NOD- scid , NOD- Rag1 null , NSG or NRG mice were treated daily with ip injections of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (5 mg/kg) for 14 days [24–27]. Mice were weighed before administration of 5-FU and daily during treatment.…”

Meta-Analysis of Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy Combined With Traditional Medicines for Colorectal Cancer

“…[8][9][10][11] A number of compounds contained in plants possess pro-apoptotic actions, which may assist in the prevention or suppression of tumor growth and/or enhance cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents. [12][13][14][15] In China, chemotherapy may be combined with TMs with the aim of reducing the side effects of the chemotherapy and/or inhibiting tumor growth. 16 A meta-analysis of 596424I CTXXX10.1177/1534735415596424Chen et alIntegrative Cancer Therapies…”

FOLFOX 4 Combined with Herbal Medicine for Advanced Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…In separate reviews, researchers explored the anti‐cancer mechanisms of Chinese HMs and summarized these as multi‐action and multi‐targeted (Han and Li, ; Parekh et al ., ). The actions of HMs include anti‐proliferative activity in cancer cells and induction of tumor cell apoptosis (Auyeung and Ko, ; Guo et al ., ; Nguyen et al ., ; Tin et al ., ; Wang et al ., ); tumor angiogenesis suppression (Jeong et al ., ; Law et al ., ; Wang et al ., ); telomerase activity inhibition (Yu et al ., ); immune function regulation (Gong, ); reversal of multiple drug resistance (Huang et al ., ; Wang et al ., ; Zhang et al ., ); enhancing the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapy regimen (Cao et al ., ; Tin et al ., ) and management of chemotherapy side effects (Chen et al . ; Zhu and Zhu, ).…”