Inhibition of tumor growth and tumor metastasis by a Chinese herbal formula--ZYD88, in an animal model with metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma.

Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death. In the present study, we determined the effectiveness of ZYD88, a Chinese herbal formula, in the inhibition of tumor growth and distant tumor metastases to the lung and liver in an animal model with metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). Treatment with ZYD88 in adult C57BL/6 mice with metastatic LLC produced dose-dependent deceases in primary tumor weight, the mitotic tumor cell number, microvessel density, distant tumor metastases and red blood cell immune complexes, while it significantly increased tumor necrosis, thymus cortical thickness, the thymus medullar reticular epithelial cell (REC) number, and the activity of red blood cell C3b receptors. Although cyclophosphamide inhibited tumor growth, it had no significant effects on distant tumor metastases, thymus cortical thickness, the thymus medullar REC number, red blood cell C3b receptor activity and red blood cell immune complexes. These results indicate that ZYD88 possesses significant anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects in this animal model, and warrants further investigation.