Dandelion root extracts abolish MAPK pathways to ameliorate experimental mouse ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-triggered ulcerative colitis (UC) model in animals provides a valuable platform to preclinically evaluate the outcome of drug candidates for UC. Dandelion root extracts (DRE) have a therapeutic effect on UC. However, the protective mechanism of DRE against UC remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To discover the targeting pathway involved in DRE-induced protection against UC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The UC model was developed in C57BL/6 mice by oral administration of DSS. Following DSS exposure, sulfasalazine (SASP), low dose of DRE (DRE-L), moderate dose of DRE (DRE-M), high dose of DRE (DRE-H), and DRE-H plus mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) agonist (DRE-H+MA) were administered to the mice. Colon Mucosal Damage Index (CMDI) and histopathological analysis were used to evaluate the colonic mucosal damage. The cytokine levels were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The MAPK pathway activation was determined with western blotting. RESULTS: We found that DRE-H attenuated DSS-triggered colonic mucosal damage. The DSS-induced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the bloodstream and colon tissues were dramatically inhibited by DRE-H administration. Also, this plant impaired DSS-provoked phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38), p65, and IκB. More importantly, MAPK agonist, BIM-23A760, removed the protective effect of DRE-H on the bloodstream and colon tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The DRE-H is capable of relieving DSS-induced UC, and its mechanism links to the MAPK pathways.

Efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with capecitabine and cetuximab in the treatment of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with capecitabine and cetuximab in the treatment of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis. METHODS: The colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis were divided into two groups, namely, Capecitabine group (receiving TACE combined with capecitabine and cetuximab, n=70) and Control group (undergoing TACE combined with cetuximab, n=70). The short-term clinical efficacy, serum tumor markers and liver function indexes were compared. Besides, the survival of patients was analyzed. RESULTS: At 3 months after treatment, the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly lower than those before treatment in both group, and they were lower in Capecitabine group than those in Control group after treatment. The liver function indexes, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, were significantly increased, while the level of albumin was significantly decreased in both groups at 3 d after treatment, and they were improved significantly at 7 d after treatment in contrast with those at 3 d after treatment. After treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in the Karnofsky performance status score and Quality of Life score between Capecitabine group and Control group. The median survival time of patients in Capecitabine group and Control group was 18.1 months and 14.7 months, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the 1-year overall survival rate between Capecitabine group and Control group. Moreover, the cumulative survival rate was significantly higher in Capecitabine group than that in Control group. CONCLUSION: The short-term efficacy of TACE combined with capecitabine and cetuximab in treating colorectal cancer with liver metastasis is superior to that of TACE combined with cetuximab.