Role of aspirin in regulating the gene expression of hepatoma transplanted into mouse

AIM: To observe the regulating effects of aspirin on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 in the hepatocarcinoma 22(H22) transplanted into mice, and to explore its tumor-inhibiting mechanism. METHODS: Sixty Kunming male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (A, B, C, D, E, F) .Then 0.12 mL H22 cell suspension (1 ×1010/ L) was injected to each mouse in the first 5 groups by right axillary subcutaneous vaccination in the forefoot. After 24 h, the mice were treated with medicine according to their weights. Group A, B and C were given 80, 40, 20 g/L of aspirin, respectively, while group D 5-FU (20 g/L, 1 mL) and group E normal saline(1 mL). All the medicine was given through gavage, 1 time/day. The treatment course lasted for 10 d. Then the medicine was withdrawn, and 24 h later the mice were weighed and killed to get their transplanted tumors to weigh and calculate the inhibitory rate of the tumor. Meanwhile, the expressions of VEGF and p53 were determined by immunohistochemical method. During the whole process, the group F was raised by normal forage and water. RESULTS: The obvious inhibition of tumor was indicated in group A, B, C and D (49.84%, 23.89%, 29.07%, 54.63%, respectively) with the group A and D having the most obvious effect (P0.05 vs group B, C). The positive expressions of VEGF and p53 were found in all the model groups with different degree. When compared with group B , C and E , the positive expressions of VEGF and p53 were lower in group A and D distinctively as compared with those in group B, C and E (P0.05, respectively ) . CONCLUSION: Aspirin has the inhibitory action for transplanted H22 in mice, and its mechanism of inhibiting the tumor growth may have a correlation with the down-regulation of VEGF and p53.