Frontiers in Pharmacology (May 2022)

Deciphering the Effects and Mechanisms of Yi-Fei-San-Jie-pill on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Integrating Network Target Analysis and Experimental Validation

  • Hongxing Yang,
  • Qiuyan Guo,
  • Jianbin Wu,
  • Lixia Zhong,
  • Lingling Sun,
  • Wei Liu,
  • Jigang Wang,
  • Jigang Wang,
  • Jigang Wang,
  • Jigang Wang,
  • Lizhu Lin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.851554
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 85% of lung cancer cases, calls for better therapy. Yi-Fei-San-Jie-pill (YFSJ), a well-applicated traditional Chinese medicine formula, was reported to be effective in the treatment of NSCLC. However, its anti-tumor mechanism still needs to be fully elucidated. Herein, a reliable preclinical orthotopic but not subcutaneous model of NSCLC in mice was established to evaluate the anti-cancer properties and further validate the mechanisms of YFSJ. A bioinformatic analysis was executed to identify the potential targets and key pathways of YFSJ on NSCLC. In detail, the anti-tumor effect of YFSJ and the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA was evaluated according to the tumor fluorescence value and comparison of different groups’ survival times. As a result, YFSJ markedly decreased tumor size and prolonged survival time in contrast with those in the orthotopic model group (p < 0.05), and it also significantly regulated the protein expression levels of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. In conclusion, this study provides convincing evidence that YFSJ could inhibit the growth of tumors and prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice based on the NSCLC orthotopic model, and its anti-tumor effect was closely associated with the promotion of apoptosis and interference of autophagy coupled with regulation of immune infiltration.

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