LAUSR

ObjectiveTo explore the inhibitory effect of moxibustion on tumor growth and metastasis, and also its possible mechanism, in gastric tumor-bearing rats by investigating the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).MethodsFifty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (half male and half female) were routinely housed for 1 week. A total of 20 rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a sham operation group, with 10 rats in each group. The remaining 30 rats were used to make gastric cancer models by implantation of ascites-type Walker-256 cancer cells. After successful modeling, rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and an infrared group, with 10 rats in each group. From the day of modeling, the body weight of each group was weighed every 4 days. Warm moxibustion was alternately performed at two-group acupoints [Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) in one group, and bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) in another group] in the moxibustion group. The body surface projection area of the stomach was irradiated with short-wave infrared rays in the infrared group, once a day, 20 min per time for 21 d. At the end of the treatment, the gastric tumor was completely dissected, and the tumor volume and tumor growth inhibition rate were calculated. Then the gastric tumor cell metastasis was recorded. The levels of VEGF and EGF in rat gastric tumor tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsCompared with the blank group, the body weight of the model group decreased significantly after modeling (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the rats in the moxibustion group had increased body weight during the middle and late stages (both P<0.05). The tumor volumes of rats in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were smaller than the volume in the model group (both P<0.05). The tumor growth inhibition rate in the moxibustion group was significantly higher than that in the infrared group (P<0.05). The case number of tumor metastasis in the moxibustion group was smaller than that in the model group and the infrared group. The VEGF level in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly higher than that in the blank group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the VEGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly lower (both P<0.05). The EGF levels in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly lower than that in the blank group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the EGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly increased (both P<0.05).ConclusionMoxibustion can increase the body weight, inhibit the tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in gastric tumor-bearing rats, which may be related to the regulation of VEGF and EGF expressions in tumor tissues.摘要目的通过观察艾灸对胃荷瘤大鼠肿瘤组织中血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和表皮细胞生子因子(EGF)表达量的影响, 探讨艾灸对胃荷瘤大鼠肿瘤生长、转移的抑制情况及其可能的作用机制。方法将50 只健康Sprague-Dawley (SD)大鼠(雌雄各半)常规饲养1 周后, 随机选取20 只分为空白组和假手术组, 每组10 只。剩余30 只种植腹水型Walker-256 癌细胞制作胃癌模型, 造模成功后随机分为模型组、艾灸组和红外组, 每组10 只. 自造模当日开始, 每隔4 d 称量各组大鼠体质量. 艾灸组在两组穴位(中脘、关元和双侧足三里为一组, 双侧脾俞和胃俞为一组)上交替施以温和灸, 红外组在腹背部胃体表投影区域用短波红外线照射, 两组均每日治疗1 次, 每次20 min,连续治疗21 d。治疗结束后, 完整剥离胃肿瘤, 并计算肿瘤体积及肿瘤生长抑制率, 记录大鼠胃肿瘤细胞转移情 况. 用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定大鼠胃肿瘤组织中VEGF 和EGF 含量。结果与空白组比较, 模型组大鼠造模后体质量明显降低(P<0.05); 与模型组比较, 艾灸组大鼠干预中、后期体质量增加(均P<0.05). 艾灸组和红外组瘤体体积均较模型组缩小(均P<0.05); 艾灸组肿瘤生长抑制率高于红外组, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05); 艾灸组肿瘤转移例数少于模型组和红外组. 模型组大鼠肿瘤组织中VEGF 含量明显高于空白组, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05); 与模型组相比, 艾灸组和红外组肿瘤组织中VEGF 均明显降低, 差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05). 模型组大鼠肿瘤组织中EGF 含量较空白组低, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05); 与模型组比较, 艾灸组和红外组肿瘤组织中EGF 含量均明显升高, 差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论艾灸能增加胃荷瘤大鼠体质量, 并有抑制胃荷瘤大鼠肿瘤生长及浸润转移的作用, 其抑制作用可能与调整胃荷瘤大鼠肿瘤组织中VEGF 和EGF 表达量有关。