Open AccessFangjihuangqi Decoction inhibits MDA‐MB‐231 cell invasion in vitro and decreases tumor growth and metastasis in triple‐negative breast cancer xenografts tumor zebrafish model
Author(s) -
Guo Yubo,
Fan Yingyi,
Pei Xiaohua
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.2894
Subject(s) - cancer research , triple negative breast cancer , decoction , metastasis , cancer , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , medicine , cell growth , vimentin , cancer cell , tumor progression , breast cancer , zebrafish , cell , biology , pathology , immunohistochemistry , genetics , biochemistry , gene
Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a basal‐like cancer which is considered to be more intrusive, have a poorer prognosis and chemoresistance. TNBC is characterized by the presence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) that plays a major role in the progression of the cancer. In the present study, we first use a classic prescription of Chinese medicine Fangjihuangqi Decoction to treat TGFβ1‐induced MDA‐MB‐231 cells in vitro. Our data showed that TGFβ1‐induced MDA‐MB‐231 cell morphology change, promoted MDA‐MB 231 invasion, increased Vimentin expression, and decreased E‐cadherin expression. Further, Fangjihuangqi Decoction‐medicated serum (FHS) treated both MDA‐MB 231 cells and TGFβ1‐induced MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Results showed that Fangjihuangqi Decoction could inhibit cell proliferation, reduce cell invasion, increase E‐cadherin expression, and decrease EMT markers. Secondly, we established a xenograft tumor zebrafish model to assess Fangjihuangqi Decoction inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Our results indicated that Fangjihuangqi Decoction could inhibit tumor growth, restrain the sprouts number of tumor neovascularization, and reduce the length of tumor neoplastic lymphatics by increasing E‐cadherin expression and decreasing EMT markers in TNBC xenograft tumor zebrafish model. Overall, our studies provide evidences that Fangjihuangqi Decoction could inhibit TNBC, reverse EMT, and contribute to antimetastasis by increasing E‐cadherin expression and decreasing EMT markers, which provide an experimental basis for clinical application of Fangjihuangqi Decoction on TNBC treatment.