Inhibitory Effect of Triptolide Microemulsion on Human Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cell Line in Nude Mice

OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effect of triptolide microemulsion on nude mice bearing human prostate cancer PC-3 cell. METHODS Nude mice xenografts beared human prostate cancer PC-3 cell were constructed, then these mice were divided into model group, triptolide group, triptolide microemulsion group and blank excipient group. The nude mice were administered orally, once every 2 days for 18 d, and their tumor volume was measured every 3 days. Then the nude mice were sacrificed at the end of administration; the body weight, liver and tumor weight of nude mice in each group were compared, the inhibition rate was calculated, further, the immunohistochemical study was carried out to detect the VEGF expression. RESULTS Compared with control group, triptolide and triptolide microemulsion group had obvious tumor growth inhibition effect; meanwhile, compared with triptolide group, triptolide microemulsion group could obviously down-regulat the expression level of VEGF in tumor tissue, and the effects of triptolide microemulsion on tumor inhibitory effect was better, furthermore, no obvious toxic reaction was found. The blank excipient group had no inhibitory effect on tumor. CONCLUSION Self microemulsion drug delivery system can enhance the anti-tumor effect of triptolide, and it is also relative safe.