Aims of the study: Kanglaite (KLT) is a useful antitumor drug with proven effects when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. We hypothesize that KLT has antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects in Lewis lung carcinoma.
Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma were divided into four groups: the control group (C), cisplatin group (1 mg/kg, DDP), low KLT group (6.25 ml/kg body weight [L]), and high KLT group (12.5 ml/kg body weight [H]). T cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor kappa B alpha (IκBα), IκB kinase (IKK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels were measured by western blotting. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2).
Results: Intraperitoneal KLT significantly inhibited the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma, and the spleen index was significantly higher in the L and H groups than in the C group. KLT stimulated T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with KLT at either 6.25 or 12.5 ml/kg decreased the level of NF-κB in the nucleus in a dose-dependent manner, and KLT markedly decreased the expression of IκBα, IKK and EGFR in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and overall. IL-2 was significantly increased in the supernatant of splenocytes in the H group.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that KLT has pronounced antitumor and immunostimulatory activities in C57BL/6 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma. These may affect the regulation of NF-κB/IκB expression, in addition to cytokines such as IL-2 and EGFR. Further work needs to investigate the relevant signaling pathway effects, but our findings suggest that KLT may be a promising antitumor drug for clinical use.
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