Medicinal Compound Shown to Have Anticancer Effects on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A new report details the significance of a Chinese medicinal compound, delisheng, for the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Traditional Chinese medicine is renowned throughout the world, but its effect on certain diseases is poorly understood. In an article that appeared in the November 7, 2007, issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology, a team led by Dr. Ke-Jun Nan from the First Affiliated Hospital of the School of Medicine of Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi'an, Shaanxi, China) reported on their studies of the compound.

HCC is a primary malignancy of the liver with a very high morbidity and mortality. In spite extensive efforts by many investigators, systemic chemotherapy for HCC has been quite ineffective. Delisheng is a medicinal compound that is frequently used in conjunction with chemotherapy for HCC, with satisfactory results. In this study, the researchers tried to establish the mechanisms for the effects of delisheng on HCC.

Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures have been widely used for evaluating the various molecular mechanisms because spheroids mimic solid tumors more closely than monolayers. Therefore, the use of 3D cultures provides a model for the development of anti-cancer drugs. In the study, cells were cultured with a liquid-overlay technique. After the formation of multicellular spheroids, the investigators used the model to perform their experiments.

One conclusion reported by the investigators is that 3D cell cultures are suitable for the study of traditional Chinese medicinal compounds, and this may help other researchers find a better model for drug development. Another interesting conclusion is that delisheng has satisfactory anti-cancer effects on HCC, which were associated with the upregulation of endostatin. This is made possible by one of delisheng's components, ginseng, and may point to a new therapy for HCC.

This is the first reported finding of a model that can be used for studying traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, the view that the satisfactory effects of delisheng were associated with the upregulation of endostatin made possible by ginseng might motivate other researchers to examine the compound.


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