[Elemene in the treatment of the transplantable model of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the inhibitory effect of elemene on the tumor growth of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma (LSCC) and to explore the possible mechanism of its inhibitory effect on LSCC.

METHOD

Nude mice model engrafted with laryngocarcinoma was established by using human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (Hep-2). When the transplantable tumor size is more than 10 mm, the mice were given elemene (120 mg/kg) in the treatment group or PBS in the control group, at the day of 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22 respectively. The animals were killed three days after the last treatment. The tumor volume, tumor weight,mice net weight and tumor inhibition rate were measured. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) mRNA were quantitated by using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULT

Elemene could inhibit the tumor growth in vivo. The differences were statistically significant for the mice net weight, tumor weight, and tumor volume between the treatment group and the control group. The tumor inhibition percentage was 52.24%. The gene expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 of the treatment group is lower than that of the control group and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Elemene could inhibit the subcutaneous plantation of human laryngeal carcinoma in nude mice and its mechanism may be associated with inhibited expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3.