Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the effects of aspirin on the growth of murine sarcoma S180 and the mechanism of the inhibitory effect. Methods   40 mice were implanted with S180 cells and randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) group, the high-dose aspirin group(250mg/kg) and the low-dose aspirin group(50mg/kg).The effect of aspirin on tumor growth was observed by recording tumor growth curve and calculating the inhibition rate. Pathological changes of the tumors were observed by HE stainning. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect microvessel density(MVD), lymphatic vessel density(LVD), the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C). Western blot was applied to detect the expressions of VEGF-A and VEGF-C. Results   High-dose and low-dose aspirin had inhibitory effects on the growth of murine S180 sarcoma (P<0.05). The inhibition rates of the high-dose and low-dose aspirin groups were 45.4% and 22.2% separately(P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of VEGF-A and VEGF-C were inhibited by aspirin. The MVD was decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The LVD was inhibited by 5-FU and aspirin especially in the high-dose aspirin group(P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the expressions of VEGF-A and VEGF-C were inhibited by aspirin. Conclusion   Aspirin can inhibit the growth of murine sarcoma S180. The mechanism might be associated with the inhibitions of tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogeresis, which are due to down-regulated expressions of VEGF-A and VEGF-C.

Key words: Aspirin; Angiogenesis; Lymphangiogenesis; Microvessel density; Vascular endothelia growth factor