Category Archives: Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Chapter 7 Isolates and Cancer Research, chemo-sensitizing, Chemotherapy, cytotoxic, Gastric cancer or Stomach cancer, Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Panax Ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza

Action: Chemo-sensitizing

An increasing number of cancer patients are using herbs in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. It is therefore important to study the potential consequences of the interactions between herbs and anticancer drugs. The effects of extracts from Panax ginseng (PGS) and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) on the pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were performed in vivo and detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while, an ATP assay was used to study the pharmacodynamic interactions in vitro. The results of the pharmacokinetic experiments showed a significant increase in the elimination half-life (t1/2(k e )) of 5-FU in the PGS-pretreated group and in the area under the curve (AUC) in the SMB-pretreated group compared with the control group.

However, after SMB pretreatment, weight loss was observed in rats. The results of pharmacodynamic experiments showed that neither PGS nor SMB, when used alone, directly inhibited cancer cell growth at 0.1-100 μg/ml. Moreover, PGS had a synergistic cytotoxic effect with 5-FU on human gastric cancer cells but not on normal gastric cells. The results imply that when combined with 5-FU, PGS may be a better candidate for further study. This study might provide insights for the selection of herbal-chemotherapy agent interactions (Gu et al., 2013).

Reference

Gu C, Qiao J, Zhu M, et al. (2013) Preliminary evaluation of the interactions of Panax ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with 5-fluorouracil on pharmacokinetics in rats and pharmacodynamics in human cells. Am J Chin Med. 2013;41(2):443-58. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X13500328.

anti-proliferative, Chapter 8 Injectables and Cancer Research, Chemotherapy, chemotherapy support, Fatigue, Immune, immunomodulary, Lymphoma, Nausea and Vomiting, Radio-sensitizer, radiotherapy, Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Kangai Injection

Cancers: Cervical., lung, non-Hodgkin”s lymphoma, stomach

Action: Anti-proliferative, chemotherapy support, immunomodulary, radio-sensitizer

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

The influence of Kangai injection on blood serum vascular endothelial growth factor of non-Hodgkin”s lymphoma patients, and its synergistic effect, attenuation and improvement of quality of life was evaluated.

Eighty-five non-Hodgkin”s lymphoma patients were randomized into a treatment group or control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated by Kangai injection and cyclophosphamide / doxorubicin / vincristine / prednisolone (CHOP) combined chemotherapy, while those in the control group were treated by CHOP chemotherapy only.

The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in blood serum of the patients of the treatment group decreased after therapy (P < 0.05), acute curative effect gradually increased, quality of life was raised significantly (P < 0.05), and adverse reactions of the combined chemotherapy decreased markedly (P < 0.05).

Kangai injection, with CHOP chemotherapy, has a synergistic effect. It can attenuate progression of non-Hodgkin”s lymphoma, and improve quality of life. Additionally, it can decrease the concentration of serum vascular endothelial growth (Tang, 2006).

Stomach Cancer; Chemotherapy

Eighty patients with advanced stomach cancer were randomly divided into treatment group (chemotherapy+ GAMA injection) and control group (chemotherapy only). Observation was conducted on cellular immunization, short-termeffect, quality of life improvement, and toxic side-effects in both groups.

In the treatment group, both NK cellular activity and CD4/CD8 ratios were higher after the treatment (P < 0.01). CD3 and CD4 were both increased (P < 0.05). In the control group, the NK cellular activity, CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 ratio were all lower after the treatment (P < 0.05). The short-term  efficacy rate was 45% in the treatment group and 40% in the control group. The difference was not significant. The treatment group was apparently lower than the control group in leukopenia, nausea and/or vomiting, and peripheral nerve toxicity (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, less fatigue, better appetite, and Karnofsky score increases were observed in the treatment group (P < 0.01). The treatment group was also more effective in relieving pain and promoting weight gain than the control group (P < 0.05).

Treating advanced stomach cancer, with the combination of Kangai injection and chemotherapy, may decrease the adverse effects of chemotherapy on patients′cellular immune functions and other side effects, and thereby, improve the quality of life of patients (Wu & Yang, 2007).

NSCLC; Chemotherapy

Seventy eight patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n=40) received GAMA injection and chemotherapy, and control group (n=38) only received chemotherapy.

The short-termeffect, Karnofsky scores of life quality, and the incidence of pancytopenia in treatment group were superior to those in the control group (72.5% vs 47.4%, P<0.05; 87.5% vs 55.3%, P < 0.01; P < 0.01).

Kangai injection can improve the short-term effect, quality of life, and pancytopenia prevalence in patients with intermediate and advanced-stage NSCLC (Wen, Xie, Xie & Feng, 2006).

Radiotherapy side-effects

One hundred ten cases of patients with malignant tumors wasrandomly divided into the treatment group or the control group. The treatment group was given Kangai injection for 40 days after radiotherapy, while the control group was treated by radiotherapy only.

Tumor growth in the treatment group and the control group were 66.7% and 43.4%, respectively. Karnofsky score improvements were 52.6% and 32.1%, respectively. The incidence of leukopenia was 22.8% and 42.5%, respectively. All differences were significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in levels of lymphocytres between the treatment group before and after therapy (P > 0.05). However, there was significant difference in the control group before and after therapy (P< 0.05).

Kangai injection can improve the curative effect and alleviate the side-effects of radiotherapy on treating malignant tumors (Cao et al., 2005).

Leukemia

Kangai injection combination of fludarabine (Flud), cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (FLAG) in refractory/relapsed acute leukemia (AL) patients was investigated. The remission rate of treatment and total effective rate treatment group were 57.1% (16/28) and 71.4% (21/28), the control group were 52.3% (11/21) and 61.9% (13/21); there were no significant differences in the two groups. Duration of neutrophils less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L in treatment group was (14 +/- 6) day, control group was (23 +/- 3) day, Duration of platelet less than 25 x 10(9)/L in treatment group was (17 +/- 6) day, control group was (31 +/- 2) day, treatment group of III-IV degree of infection was 6.9% (1/28) and control group was 23.8% (5/21) between the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). treatment group of III- IV degree of gastrointestinal; toxicity was 10.7% (3/28) and control group was 28. 5% (6/ 21).

Kangai injection plus FLAG regimen could increase the remission rate, shorten the period of bone marrow suppression, significantly reduced the incidence and degree of infection, play an important role in attenuated efficiency (Wan et al., 2011).

References

Cao, H. (2005). Treating 57 cases of malignant tumor by Kangai injection and radiotherapy. Zhejiang Journal of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, 2005(12), R730.5. doi: cnki:sun:zjzh.0.2005-12-005.


Tang, Q. (2006). Influence of Kangai injection on blood serum vascular endothelial growth factor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patient. Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma, 15(1).


Wan, Q., Xi, A., Zhang, C., Liu X.(2011) Clinical study of kangai injection plus FLAG regimen for refractory/relapsed acute leukemia. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi, 36(22):3207-9.


Wen, J.Y., Xie, Z., Xie, J.R., & Feng, L.P. (2006). Kangai injection mixed with chemotherapy in intermediate and advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Journal of Guandong Medical College, 24(1), 1005-4057.


Wu, L., & Yang, Y. (2007). A clinical study of treating advanced gastric cancer with the combination of Kangai injection and chemotherapy. Proceeding of Clinical Medicine, 18(7), 1671-8631.

Anti-cancer, Anti-estrogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, Breast cancer, Cachexia-inducing, cachexia-inhibiting, cancer stem cells, CCND2, Chapter 7 Isolates and Cancer Research, Endometrial cancer, ER, Hair Loss, inflammation, Lung cancer, MKN45cl85 and 85As2mLuc, pneumonitis, Prostate cancer, Radio-protective, radio-protective effect, Radio-sensitizer, radiotherapy, S, Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Isoflavones

Cancer: Prostate, breast, endometrial

Action: Anti-estrogenic effects, radio-protective effect, pneumonitis, cachexia-inhibiting

Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer

Isoflavones have been investigated in detail for their role in the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer. This is primarily because of the overwhelming data connecting high dietary isoflavone intake with reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. A number of investigations have evaluated the mechanism(s) of anti-cancer action of isoflavones such as genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, equol, etc., in various prostate cancer models, both in vitro and in vivo.

Nuclear receptors are considered to be a central goal for maximizing treatment opportunities in breast cancer. Among natural ligands for estrogen receptors (ER and ERβ), which are members of the nuclear receptors super-family, are found isoflavones. These natural compounds have a similar structure to the main female hormone 17β-estradiol. A rich source of isoflavones is soy and its products. Three isoflavones of the aglycone form (genistein, daidzein, glycitein) are predominantly found in soybean and red clover. Other important isoflavones are biochanin A and formononetin (Bialešová et al., 2013).

Breast Cancer

Soy isoflavones do not function as an estrogen, but rather exhibit anti-estrogenic properties. However, their metabolism differs between humans and animals and therefore the outcomes of animal studies may not be applicable to humans. The majority of breast cancer cases are hormone-receptor-positive; therefore, soy isoflavones should be considered a potential anti-cancer therapeutic agent (Douglas et al., 2013).

Anti-cancer Effects

Use of soy isoflavone mixture has been advocated as an alternative, wherein daidzein can negate harmful effects of genistein. Recent research indicates the novel role of genistein and other isoflavones in the potentiation of radiation therapy, epigenetic regulation of key tumor suppressors and oncogenes, and the modulation of miRNAs, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells, which has renewed the interest of cancer researchers in this class of anti-cancer compounds (Ahmad et al. 2013).

Radiation-induced Pneumonitis, Radiation-induced Side-effects

Radiation-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis have restricted radiotherapy for lung cancer. In a preclinical lung tumor model, soy isoflavones showed the potential to enhance radiation damage in tumor nodules and simultaneously protect normal lung from radiation injury. Soy isoflavones given pre- and post-radiation protected the lungs against adverse effects of radiation including skin injury, hair loss, increased breathing rates, inflammation, pneumonitis and fibrosis, providing evidence for a radio-protective effect of soy (Hillman et al., 2013 a).

Radio-sensitizer

Combined soy and radiation caused a significantly stronger inhibition of tumor progression compared to each modality alone in contrast to large invasive tumor nodules seen in control mice. At the same time, soy reduced radiation injury in lung tissue by decreasing pneumonitis, fibrosis and protecting alveolar septa, bronchioles and vessels (Hillman et al., 2013 b).

Endometrial Cancer

Because of their anti-oxidant and anti-mutagenic properties, flavonoids may reduce cancer risk. Some flavonoids have anti-estrogenic effects that can inhibit the growth and proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. The intake of flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, anthocyanidins, flavones, isoflavones, and proanthocyanidins was measured and high consumption of selected proanthocyanidins may reduce endometrial cancer risk (Rossi et al., 2013).

Breast Cancer Protection

The evidence to date from observational epidemiologic studies, suggests that soy food intake, in the amount consumed in Asian populations (about 10 to 20 mg isoflavones per day), may be associated with a reduction of risk of breast cancer development as well as mortality and recurrence among women with breast cancer. The large number of clinical intervention studies on soy that have investigated intermediate biomarkers of breast cancer risk, including circulating estrogen levels, mammographic density, and breast tissue changes (cell proliferation), have not shown clear beneficial or deleterious effects (Wu et al., 2013).

Cachexia-Inhibiting

Isoflavones possess anti-proliferative effects of cachexia-inducing cells (MKN45cl85 and 85As2mLuc) cancer cell lines. Isoflavone treatment on the models induced tumor cytostasis, attenuation of cachexia, and prolonged survival whereas discontinuation of the treatment resulted in progressive tumor growth and weight loss (Yanagihara et al., 2013).

Methylation Effects

There is an inverse correlation between estrogenic marker complement (C)3 and genistein, which suggests an anti-estrogenic effect. Isoflavones induced dose-specific changes in RARβ2 and CCND2 gene methylation, which correlated with genistein levels. Research by Qin & Zhu (2009) provides novel insights into estrogenic and methylation effects of dietary isoflavones.

References

Ahmad A, Biersack B, Li Y, et al. (2013). Perspectives on the Role of Isoflavones in Prostate Cancer. AAPS J, 15(4):991-1000.


Bialešová L, Brtko J, Lenko V, Macejov‡ D. (2013). Nuclear receptors – target molecules for isoflavones in cancer chemoprevention. Gen Physiol Biophys.


Douglas CC, Johnson SA, Arjmandi BH. (2013). Soy and its isoflavones: the truth behind the science in breast cancer. Anti-cancer Agents Med Chem, 13(8):1178-87.


Hillman GG, Singh-Gupta V, Lonardo F, et al [a]. (2013). Radioprotection of Lung Tissue by Soy Isoflavones. J Thorac Oncol.


Hillman GG, Singh-Gupta V, Hoogstra DJ, et al [b]. (2013). Differential effect of soy isoflavones in enhancing high intensity radiotherapy and protecting lung tissue in a preclinical model of lung carcinoma. Radiother Oncol. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2013.08.015.


Rossi M, Edefonti V, Parpinel M, et al. (2013). Proanthocyanidins and other flavonoids in relation to endometrial cancer risk: a case-control study in Italy. Br J Cancer, 109(7):1914-1920. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2013.447.


Wu AH, Lee E, Vigen C. (2013). Soy isoflavones and breast cancer. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book, 2013:102-6. doi: E10.1200/EdBook_AM.2013.33.102.


Yanagihara K, Takigahira M, Mihara K, et al. (2013). Inhibitory effects of isoflavones on tumor growth and cachexia in newly established cachectic mouse models carrying human stomach cancers. Nutr Cancer, 65(4):578-89. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2013.776089.