Inhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic metastasis of melanoma by suppressing tumor cell invasion

Anticancer Res. 2010 Sep;30(9):3429-33.

Abstract

We investigated the anti-metastatic activity of a water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS) using a model of mice injected with B16-F0 mouse melanoma cells into the spleen. WECS administered intraperitoneally reduced the number of metastatic surface nodules of B16-F0 cells in the liver of C57BL/6Cr mice in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly prolonged their survival. To identify the mechanism of the anti-metastatic effect of WECS, we examined its effects on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-accelerated invasion of B16-F0 cells using a chemo-invasion assay in vitro. As a result, WECS reduced HGF-accelerated B16-F0 cell invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that WECS exerts an anti-metastatic action, in part by inhibiting the HGF-accelerated tumor invasiveness of mouse melanoma cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cordyceps / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / secondary*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor