In the present study, we investigated the
therapeutic effect of a classical TCM formula, Free Wanderer
Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn), in a
breast cancer mouse model induced with
estrogen-insensitive
breast cancer 4T1 cells. Ovariectomized Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks) or
sham mice were injected into the fourth mammary fat pad with 4T1 cells in which
tumors were palpable 7 days after injection. On the eighth day, the mice were divided into 4 groups and tubefed daily with vehicle, Free Wanderer
Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) formula or
tamoxifen for 28 days.
Tumor growth inhibition and the decrease of the average
tumor mass were most evident in mice treated with Free Wanderer
Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn). Free Wanderer
Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) treatment significantly reduced Bcl-2 and elevated Bax and p53
protein expressions in
breast cancer tumor. These results were further confirmed by immunohistochemisty.
Tamoxifen could decrease spleen mass and Bcl-2
protein expression, increase the
Bax protein expression as well as exert uterotrophic effects by increasing uterus index and inducing the gene expressions in the uterus. Taken together, these results show that Free Wanderer
Powder ( xiāo yáo sǎn) treatment induced apoptosis at
protein level and inhibited the
tumor growth in 4T1-induced ovariectomized Balb/c female mice, indicating the possibility of its future use for treatment of
estrogen-insensitive breast caner.