**4.5. Chinese medicines and their active compounds for enhancing immunological function in liver cancer patient**

The TCM formula Songyou Yin (SYY) was developed by Professor Zhao‐You Tang for liver cancer treatment. Recent studies have found that the antimetastasis and anti‐recurrence effects by SYY may be correlated with its immunomodulation activity. SYY can significantly extend survival and inhibit the tumor growth and metastasis in tumor‐burdened mice. SYY remark‐ ably increased the ratio of CD4/CD8 in peripheral blood and decreased the serum TGF‐beta1 activity as well as the percentage of Treg cells both in spleen and peripheral blood. Thus, the TCM product SYY may strengthen the immunity of liver cancer patient and prevent tumor recurrence [43].

Mylabris mixture is a popular anticancer TCM formula which mainly consists of the Mylabris extracts, Tangerine Peel and Millet Sprout. Recent studies found that Mylabris mixture could obviously suppress the growth of liver cancer H22 cells by improving the immunological function in mice model [44]. After Mylabris mixture treatment, the stimulation index of T‐ lymphocyte transformation and proportion of NK cells were apparently increased. The subpopulation percentage of T lymphocytes also significantly increased after Mylabris mixture treatment. Up‐regulation on the secretion of interferon‐gamma and interleukin‐4 by T lymphocytes also confirmed the immunoloregulation effects by Mylabris mixture.

A recent study has explored the immunoloregulation effects of ultrasound‐guided intratu‐ moral injection of TCM formula "Star‐99" in HCC in mice model. Star‐99 can improve the cellular immunity and induce HCC cell apoptosis by increasing the level of plasma IL‐2 and TNF‐alpha. The cytokines IL‐2 can be considered as an immunological response modifier. It can improve the activity of lymphocyte and the anti‐tumor effects of NK, CTL and LAK cells as well as cytokine secretion. In addition, another experiment also found that many lympho‐ cytes can be observed in the tumor tissues after the Star‐99 treatment [45]. The electron microscope results observed that the microvilli on the surface of the lymphocytes attacked the cancer cells. The membrane of tumor cell in contact with the sensitized T lymphocyte became broken with the organelle and the nucleus dissolved and the vacuolation of the cytoplasm as well. This phenomenon further illustrate that the Star‐99 could stimulate and induce the cellular immunity function of the organism.

Asparagus polysaccharide, the bioactive derivate from Asparagus, is a common TCM herbal diet that may exhibit anticancer activity according to previous researches. One study has explored the adjunctive effects of asparagus polysaccharide in liver cancer chemotherapy [42]. Their results showed that asparagus polysaccharide significantly suppressed liver cancer growth in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in orthotopic HCC rat model. Tumor angiogenesis may be the major target for asparagine gelatinous in liver cancer treatment. Several angiogenesis markers such as CD34 and VEGF significantly decreased after asparagine gelatinous treatment. The expression of MVD markers also remarkably reduced in asparagus polysaccharide treated liver tumors. These results suggested that asparagus polysaccharide with TACE could apparently inhibit the tumor angiogenesis *in vivo*; asparagus polysaccharide might be a potential adjunvant therapy for

**4.5. Chinese medicines and their active compounds for enhancing immunological function**

The TCM formula Songyou Yin (SYY) was developed by Professor Zhao‐You Tang for liver cancer treatment. Recent studies have found that the antimetastasis and anti‐recurrence effects by SYY may be correlated with its immunomodulation activity. SYY can significantly extend survival and inhibit the tumor growth and metastasis in tumor‐burdened mice. SYY remark‐ ably increased the ratio of CD4/CD8 in peripheral blood and decreased the serum TGF‐beta1 activity as well as the percentage of Treg cells both in spleen and peripheral blood. Thus, the TCM product SYY may strengthen the immunity of liver cancer patient and prevent tumor

Mylabris mixture is a popular anticancer TCM formula which mainly consists of the Mylabris extracts, Tangerine Peel and Millet Sprout. Recent studies found that Mylabris mixture could obviously suppress the growth of liver cancer H22 cells by improving the immunological function in mice model [44]. After Mylabris mixture treatment, the stimulation index of T‐ lymphocyte transformation and proportion of NK cells were apparently increased. The subpopulation percentage of T lymphocytes also significantly increased after Mylabris mixture treatment. Up‐regulation on the secretion of interferon‐gamma and interleukin‐4 by T

A recent study has explored the immunoloregulation effects of ultrasound‐guided intratu‐ moral injection of TCM formula "Star‐99" in HCC in mice model. Star‐99 can improve the cellular immunity and induce HCC cell apoptosis by increasing the level of plasma IL‐2 and TNF‐alpha. The cytokines IL‐2 can be considered as an immunological response modifier. It can improve the activity of lymphocyte and the anti‐tumor effects of NK, CTL and LAK cells as well as cytokine secretion. In addition, another experiment also found that many lympho‐ cytes can be observed in the tumor tissues after the Star‐99 treatment [45]. The electron microscope results observed that the microvilli on the surface of the lymphocytes attacked the cancer cells. The membrane of tumor cell in contact with the sensitized T lymphocyte became broken with the organelle and the nucleus dissolved and the vacuolation of the cytoplasm as

lymphocytes also confirmed the immunoloregulation effects by Mylabris mixture.

TACE in treating liver cancer.

56 Anti-cancer Drugs - Nature, Synthesis and Cell

**in liver cancer patient**

recurrence [43].

Previous studies revealed the TCM herbal product Kanglaite (KLT) which mainly consists of Jobstears Seed oil exhibits anticancer and immunoregulation activities. According to a clinical study, KLT treatment can improve the immunological function via increasing the proportion of T cells and NK cells in the blood of HCC patients [46]. *In vivo* study in tumor‐bearing mice showed that KLT enhanced the immune system by increasing the secretion of several cytokines such as the IFN‐gamma and IL‐2, and up‐regulate the proportion of CD4+ T cells in mice. These events further improved the killing activity of NK cells and CD8+ T cells against the HepG2 cells. KLT treatment also up‐regulate the mRNA level of some NF‐kappaB responsive genes in CD4+ cells. In conclusion, KLT may have immunomodulatory activity at least partially through the activating of NF‐kappaB mediated gene transcription in CD4+ T cells.
