TiaochangXiaoliu decoction inhibits azomethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colorectal cancer by regulating immune response

BACKGROUND: TiaochangXiaoliu decoction (TXD) has an anti-tumor effect in clinical practice. We further investigated the role of TXD in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Mouse models of CRC were induced by azomethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), with sixty male C57BL/6 mice randomly divided into six groups (10 mice/group): a control group, AOM/DSS group, TXD at low dose (L-dose) group, middle dose (M-dose) group, high dose (H-dose) group, and Celecoxib (Cel) group. The colorectum, serum, and plasma of mice in each group was collected following sacrifice to record the number of tumors. HE staining was utilized for observing pathological damage to colorectal tissues, ELISA used for detecting INF-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α expression in serum, and flow cytometry used for measuring the proportion of CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), and NK cells in plasma. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the AOM/DSS group showed tumor masses in the colorectum and different degrees of pathological damage in the intestine. AOM/DSS induction also resulted in an increase in INF-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α expression in serum, and a decrease in the percentages of CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), and NK cells(P