Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2001 Aug; 26(4): 301-4.

[Inhibitory effect of yiqijiedu powder to telomerase and telomerase RNA in nasopharyngeal tumorigenesis of rats]

Tang FQ, Tian DF, Chen ZH.

Central Research Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.

OBJECTIVE: Telomerase activation is a common event in malignant transformation, and is associated with tumorigenesis. This has been clarified in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. YIQIJIEDU powder (Chinese traditional medicine) is used to treated the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radio-therapy and patients with precancerous lesion of NPC. We investigated whether YIQIJIEDU powder inhibits the telomerase activity in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal carcinomas in rats were induced by N, N' Dinitrosopiperazine (DNP), and some of them were treated with YIQIJIEDU powder. Telomerase and telomerase RNA in the rats' nasopharyngeal tissue were assayed by using PCR-ELISSA and Nested-PCR, and were pathologically diagnosed. RESULTS: YIQIJIEDU powder could inhibit telomerase activity and nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis in the nasopharyngeal tissue of the rats treated, but no telomerase RNA. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the anticancer effect of YIQIJIEDU powder links with their inhibitory effects on telomerase.