Effect of vitamin K2 and benazepril combination therapy on gastric cancer in nude mice / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vitamin K2 combined with benazepril on human gastric cancer in nude mice. METHODS: SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells were implanted into BALB/c nude mice to establish the cancer model. Fourteen days after the subcutaneous implantation of cancer cells, 40 nude mice were randomly divided into 4 groups; control group, vitamin K2 therapy group, benazepril therapy group and combination therapy group (vitamin K2 + benazepril). After 14 d, the tumor growth was evaluated, apoptosis indices were examined by TUNEL assay, and VEGF and caspase 3 expression were assessed by immunohisto-chemical staining. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, tumor weights were decreased and apoptosis indexes was significantly increased in the therapy groups (P < 0.05), the protein expression of caspase 3 were up-regulated, and VEGF were decreased in the therapy group (P < 0.05), and all the changes above were more significant in combination therapy group than vitamin K2 or benazepril group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of vitamin K2 and benazepril enhances anti-tumor efficacy possibly through angiogenesis suppression and apoptosis induction. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.