Liu Lu-ming

Therapeutic evaluation on advanced pancreatic cancer Treated by Integrative Chinese and western medicine — Clinical analysis of 56 cases

Objective:In comparison with chemotherapy, to evaluate therapeutic effects on advanced pancreatic cancer treated by integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) therapies.Methods: Based on the retrospective study of 56 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, life table was applied to the analysis of patients’ survival rate and χ2 test to the comparison of therapeutic response between ICWM and chemotherapy groups.Results: The results showed that 1-year survival rate in the ICWM group was 55. 37%±3.24%; 2-year survival rate 34. 61%±16. 31%; 3-year survival rate 25. 96%±24. 64%; 5-year survival rate 2596%±24.64%; and median survival period 16.3 months. However 1-year survival rate in the chemotherapy group was 21. 95%±27. 54%; 2-year survival rate 7. 31%±27. 54%; 3-year survival rate 0%; and median survival period 7. 5 months. The therapeutic effects between two groups were significantly different (P=0. 004). Further analysis suggested that the reduction of cancer mass in the ICWM group was more than that in chemotherapy group (P=0.049) and the improvement of advanced pancreatic cancer related-symptoms better than that of chemotherapy group (P = 0. 002).Conclusion: The ICWM comprehensive therapy is of important value in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Anti-tumor effect of the extract from Qingyihuaji formula on pancreatic cancer by down-regulating Notch-4 and Jagged-1

Abstract Objective To investigate, in terms of Notch signaling pathway, the effect on pancreatic cancer of the extract of an anti-tumor prescription – Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ) – from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Methods Nude mice were implanted subcutaneously with human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 and then randomly divided into four groups: Control, QYHJ extract, Gemcitabine, and Combination of QYHJ extract and gemcitabine. Treatments were given for 21 days and tumor growth was evaluated simultaneously. Then, expression of Notch receptors (Notch-1, Notch-2, Notch-3, and Notch-4) and their Jagged ligands (Jagged-1 and Jagged-2) in dissected tumor tissue were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed to detect CD133, a marker of pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs), to evaluate the impact of QYHJ extract on pancreatic CSCs. Results QYHJ extract treatment effectively inhibited the tumor growth in nude mice. The expression of both Notch-4 and Jagged-1 were decreased significantly in QYHJ treatment groups ( P P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the expression of Notch-1, Notch-2, Notch-3, and Jagged-2 between three treatment groups and control group ( P > 0.05). Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis showed that the number of CD133 positive cells was significantly reduced by QYHJ treatment ( P P Conclusion The role of the extract in pancreatic cancer treatment was associated with down-regulation of Notch-4 and Jagged-1 in Notch signaling pathway. The extract could enhance the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and was more effective than gemcitabine in regulating Notch signaling pathway to some extent.