Antitumor effects of Yi-WeiJie-Du decoction ( YWJD ) against gastric carcinoma via BGC-803 tumor xenografts mice model

To investigate the antitumor effects of Yi-Wei-Jie-Du decoction (YWJD) against gastric carcinoma. In this paper, we established a BGC-803 tumor xenografts mice model, then the tumor growth curves and tumor weight were analyzed. In addition, TUNEL assay and Ki67&CD34 staining were carried out. Quantitative Real-time fluorogenic PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting assays were performed to determine the levels of caspase-3, VEGF, PCNA, Cyclin D1, p-ERK 1/2, and ERK 1/2. Our present results showed that YWJD (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) significantly inhibited both the tumor weight (p < 0.01) and growth (p < 0.01) of BGC-803 GC tumors, with a dosedependent manner. Immunohistochemical results indicated that YWJD decreased the protein levels of Ki67 and CD34. TUNEL assay revealed that YWJD promoted the tumor cells apoptosis. Furthermore, our results also indicated that YWJD (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) dose-dependently down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of PCNA (p < 0.01), VEGF (p < 0.01), Cyclin D1 (p < 0.01) and p-ERK (p < 0.01), whereas up-regulated the Caspase-3 (p < 0.01). Collectively, the present study suggested that YWJD has antitumor effect against GC, and the mechanisms might be involved in apoptosis and cycle arrest via down-regulating Ki67, CD34, PCNA, VEGF, Cyclin D1 and p-ERK whereas up-regulated C-caspase-3.