[The influence of Qi-lan granulates on the variation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen during the course of SD rat tongue carcinogenesis].

PURPOSE: To study the cancer blocking effect of the Qi-lan granulates in SD rats. METHODS: A total of 150 SD rats were divided into five groups A,B,C,D,E. Rats in group A, B, C, D were fed with 0.002% 4NQO dissolved in drinking water to induce tongue carcinogenesis in rats. Different concentration of the herb Qi-lan granulates was given to the rats of group B, C, D during oral carcinogenesis. Group A was model group, group E was normal group. The rats were sacrificed at 9, 18, 27 and 36 weeks respectively from the beginning of the experiment. The samples were collected for histophology and PCNA immunohistochemistry. The date was analyzed by Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test using SPSS13.0 software package. RESULTS: The overall canceration rate of group B (14.29%), C (3.57%), D (14.29%) was significantly lower than group A (39.29%) (P<0.05), the effect of Qi-lan granulates in group C was the best. Immunohistochemistry result showed that 6 cases of normal oral mucosa in group A had positive expression of PCNA. In 11 cases of dysplasia, 8 had positive express of PCNA, 11 rats with oral cancerous tissues had positive expression of PCNA.In group A, the expression of PCNA was normal tissue0.05). In general, the expression of PCNA in group A was significantly higher than the Qi-lan granulates group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression of PCNA in group E was negative. CONCLUSIONS: Qi-lan granulates have significant inhibitory effect on tongue cancer, through blocking cell proliferation.

[Experimental study on effects of shengmai injection: enhancing 5-FU anti-tumor efficacy and reducing its toxicity].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Shengmai Injection on enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: Fifty hepatoma 22 bearing mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group, 5-Fu group, Shengmai Injection (low, medium and high dose) combined with 5-FU groups. There were 10 mice in each group. Mice in the five groups were injected introperitoneally the same amount of normal saline, 5-FU (20 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and Shengmai Injection (3.5 ml.kg(-1).d(-1), 7 ml.kg(-1).d(-1) and 14 ml.kg(-1).d(-1)) combined with 5-FU respectively, once a day for 14 days. After that, all mice were killed and the tumor inhibiting rates, index of immunological function, liver and kidney function and the blood cells in the peripheral blood were observed. RESULTS: The tumor inhibiting rates were higher in each Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU group than that in the 5-FU group (P<0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, IgG, IgM in 5-FU group were lower (P<0.05), while those in the three Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU groups were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was higher and the WBC and PLT counts in the peripheral blood were lower in 5-FU group than those in the control group (P<0.05). But the levels of serum ALT in the three Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU groups were consistent with that in the control group and the amounts of WBC decreased slightly. CONCLUSION: Shengmai Injection can enhance the anti-tumor effect of 5-FU. It can also improve the immunological function and reduce the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.

[Clinical evaluation of integration of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and traditional Chinese medicine in treating metastatic liver cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment effect, quality of life and side-effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating metastatic liver cancer. METHODS: Thirty-nine cases of colon metastatic liver cancer were randomly divided into two groups. Both TACE and TCM were used in the treatment group, while only TACE was used in the control group. The drug used in TACE included floxuridine, pirarubicin, cisplatin, and the herbs for strengthening the spleen and regulating Qi were used in TCM. RESULTS: The response rate in the treatment group was 30% (45% including minor remission patients), and the median survival time was 18.6 months. While in the control group the response rate was 15.8% (36.8% including minor remission patients), and the median survival time was 14.3 months. The 1-, 2-, 3- year survival rates of treatment group and the control group were 70.2%, 40.3%, 13.0% and 68.7%, 29.5%, 10.3% respectively. There were fewer other organ metastases in the treatment group. The score from the EORTC quality of life questionnaire QLQ-C30 in treatment group was higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: Integration of TACE and TCM in treating colon metastatic liver cancer has better results.

[Evaluation of therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine combined with western medicine on breast cancer after resection: analysis of 71 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with western medicine on breast cancer after surgical resection. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with breast cancer received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy and TCM following resection. RESULTS: None of the patients died during the follow-up period. Fifty-seven patients were treated with TCM shortly after undergoing resection. Two recurrences (3.5%) and 6 metastases (10.5%) were observed in 8 patients, whose median disease free survival was 5.9 years. Fourteen patients didn't receive TCM until recurrence or metastasis emerged, with a median disease free survival of 3.5 years. There was significant difference between the two groups (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: TCM combined with western medicine is efficient in preventing and delaying recurrence and metastasis.