In vivo antitumor activity by 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone in a solid human carcinoma xenograft model.

Previously, we showed that 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), isolated from the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus, significantly inhibited the growth of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and could induce SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis in vitro. Here, we report the antitumor effects of DMC in vivo, using a solid human tumor xenograft model with a human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cell line. Our results revealed that the average tumor weight in a control group and a 150-mg/kg DMC injection group was 1.42+/-0.11 g and 0.59+/-0.12 g, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis of the tumor cell population demonstrated the existence of an aneuploid peak (representing 33.60+/-0.80% of the total in the 150-mg/kg DMC injection group). To our knowledge, this is the first time that chalcone compounds were applied to a human tumor xenograft model.