Berberine suppresses metastasis and recurrence
of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting
circulating tumour cells: abridged secondary
publication
CS Cheng1; HY Tan1; C Zhang1; YT Chan1; ZJ Zhang1; K Man2; MF Yuen3; N Wang1; Y Feng1
1 School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
2 Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong
3 Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
1. In mice with hepatocellular carcinoma with and
without surgical resection, a combination of
berberine and sorafenib potently improved the
therapeutic efficacy and outcome without major
adverse effects.
2. In our mouse model, berberine suppressed the in vitro viability and presentation of CD44+EpCAM+ circulating tumour cells (CTCs), as berberine is associated with inhibition of the invasiveness and re-attachment of CTCs and induction of cell apoptosis.
3. The inhibitory effect of berberine on CTCs was due to suppressed expression of CD44 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways in CTCs.
2. In our mouse model, berberine suppressed the in vitro viability and presentation of CD44+EpCAM+ circulating tumour cells (CTCs), as berberine is associated with inhibition of the invasiveness and re-attachment of CTCs and induction of cell apoptosis.
3. The inhibitory effect of berberine on CTCs was due to suppressed expression of CD44 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways in CTCs.