ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of elemene combined with chemotherapy on S100A4 and MMP-9 protein expression in Lewis lung carcinoma mice and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods Twenty-four mice inoculated with Lewis cells were randomly divided into 4 groups,including lung carcinoma model group,chemotherapy group,elemene group,and combination group,6 mice in each group. On day 11 after inoculation, the mice in chemotherapy group were given intraperitoneal injection of etoposide (3 mg·kg-1·d-1)and cisplatin (3 mg·kg-1·d-1),the mice in elemene group were given intraperitoneal injection of elemene (100 mg·kg-1·d-1), the mice in the combination group were given intraperitoneal injection of elemene (100 mg·kg-1·d-1),etoposide (3 mg·kg-1·d-1),and cisplatin (3 mg·kg-1·d-1). After 7-day continuous treatment,the tumor body mass, spleen index, thoracic gland index, growth-inhibition rate, and metastasis-inhibition rate in various groups were measured,the contents of protein S100A4 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)in tumor tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the protein expression levels of S100A4 and MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results In the combination group, the growth-inhibition rate and the inhibitory rate of metastases were increased obviously, the spleen index and thoracic gland index were also increased, the contents of S100A4 and MMP-9 were decreased, and the protein expression rates of S100A4 and MMP-9 were reduced(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with the chemotherapy group). Conclusion Elemene combined with chemotherapy could inhibit the Lewis lung carcinoma growth and metastasis in mice, and the possible mechanism might be associated with the decrease of S100A4 and MMP-9 protein expression in the tumor tissues.