Effect of xiaotan sanjie recipe on expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in nude mice with transplanted human gastric adenocarcinoma cell MKN-45 / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the mechanism of Xiaotan Sanjie Recipe (XSR) in inhibiting lymphatic metastasis of gastric carcinoma by observing its effects on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and its receptor VEGFR-3 in nude mice with transplanted human gastric adenocarcinoma cell MKN-45.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty mice were made into MKN-45 tumor model and randomly divided into three groups treated with saline, 5-Fu, and XSR, respectively. Gene and protein expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in the tumor tissue were detected by RT-PCR, and the lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) in tumor was measured with immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the group treated with saline, the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 as well as LMVD level were significantly lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the group treated with XSR. There was no significantly statistic difference between the group of XSR and 5-Fu on the indices mentioned above (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By down-regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 might be one of possible mechanisms for XSR in preventing and curing the lymphatic metastasis of gastric carcinoma.</p>