ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Jianpi Prescription on tumor growth in subcutaneous colorectal cancer xenografts in mice and expressions of VEGF and MMP-7; To discuss its mechanism of anti-colon cancer. Methods Nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously into human colon cancer cells to establish human colon cancer xenograft models. Nude mouse models of subcutaneous colorectal cancer xenografts were randomly divided into model group, 5-FU group, Bushen Jianpi low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for three weeks. Six tumor-bearing mice in each group were sacrificed. Tumor mass was measured, and the relative inhibition rate was calculated. The serum levels of VEGF and MMP-7 were measured by ELISA. The remaining tumor-bearing mice were used to observe the survival time. Results Compared with model group, the weight of tumor were reduced and the median survival time of mice were prolonged in Bushen Jianpi groups, as well as the expression levels of VEGF and MMP-7 significantly decreased Bushen Jianpi groups. Conclusion Bushen Jianpi Prescription can inhibit the growth of human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice and prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice, which may be related to the down-regulation of the expressions of VEGF and MMP-7.