Objective To investigate the effects of combined therapy of Chinese herbal compound "Songyou Yin" and IFNα on residual tumor growth, metastasis and survival in nude mice following palliative resection.Methods Nude mice models of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were established via orthotopic implantation of a highly metastatic potential human HCC cell line MHCC97H.Seventy-two nude mice which underwent palliative liver resection were randomized into control group, "Songyou Yin" group, IFNα group and the combined group ("Songyou Yin"+ IFNα) .Daily intragastric administration of "Songyou Yin" and injection of IFNα were given for 5 consecutive weeks 24 hours after palliative resection.Daily general observations and weekly body weights were recorded.Six mice in each group were sacrificed 48 h after the final treatment to examine tumor volume and lung metastasis.The remaining mice were used to observe life span.Results The HCC tumor volume was (1205.2±581.3) , (724.9±337.6) , (507.6±367.0) and (245.3±181.2) mm3 in control group, "Songyou Yin" group, IFNα group and the combined group (F=6.410, P<0.05) respectively, accorded with the number of pulmonary metastatic nodules (n) of 13.8±3.5, 12.1±3.8, 7.4±2.8 and 4.5±1.9 (F=22.930, P<0.05) .The life span (Means ± SE) was (62.1±2.0) , (76.2±3.2) , (81.1±2.5) and (88.3±2.5) d respectively (Chi-Square=45.704, P<0.05) .Statistical significance could be seen as comparison was made between the combined group and the single drug therapy groups.Conclusion Five weeks administration of Chinese herbal compound "Songyou Yin" reinforced the inhibition effects of IFNα on the residual HCC growth and lung metastasis, and extension of life span in nude mice model of palliative resection, which indicated its potential use in patients with HCC.
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