Abstract: AIM: To explore the effect of artesunate on the angiogenesis and tumor infiltration in human breast carcinoma MCF-7.METHODS: The human breast tumor cell line MCF-7 was transplanted into nude mice, and the animals were treated with various doses of ART and normal saline (NS) was as control. The tumor inhibitory effects were measured and compared. The expression of angiogenesis-related proteins VEGF and HIF-1α were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot.Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and E-cadherin expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry .RESULTS: The tumor inhibition rates in the low dose ART group, high dose ART group were (24.39±10.20) % and (40.24±7.02 ) %, respectively. Immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the normal saline group, the expressions of VEGF and HIF-α were significantly reduced,there were statistically significant difference (P<0.05).And the expression levels of uPA and E-cadherin between the treatment groups and the normal saline group were statistically insignificant(P>0.05). The expression of HIF-lα and VEGF were positively correlated(r=0.983,P=0.000). Western blot results showed that compared with the normal saline group, the expressions of VEGF and HIF-1α were significantly reduced.CONCLUSION: Artesunate inhibits the growth of MCF-7 xenograft mouse,its mechanism is related to inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor infiltration .

Key words: artesunate, nude mice, breast cancer, angiogenesis, infiltration