OBJECTIVETo compare different Chinese medicine (CM) therapeutic methods on the pancreatic orthotopic transplantation tumors in nude mice, and to explore their features.

METHODSThe pancreatic orthotopic transplantation tumor model was established. Sixty nude mice were randomly divided into four group, i. e., the blood circulation activating and stasis resolving group, the heat clearing and dampness removing group, the Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating group, the phlegm reducing and mass resolving group, the normal control 1 group, and the normal control 2 group, 10 in each group. 0.2 mL corresponding CM decoction or normal saline was respectively administered to each group by gastrogavage, once daily, for totally 28 days. The body weight, the tumor weight, and the tumor inhibition ratio were observed.

RESULTSThe tumor inhibition ratio was 42.69% in the heat clearing and dampness removing group, 31.24% in the blood circulation activating and stasis resolving group, 2.11% in the Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating group, and -12.95% in the phlegm reducing and mass resolving group. There was statistical difference in the tumor weight between the heat clearing and dampness removing group and the normal control 1 group (g, 0.51 +/- 0.28 vs 0.90 +/- 0.25, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the body weight change between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe CM pathogenesis of pancreatic carcinoma may possibly due to the accumulation of dampness and heat, or the accumulation of dampness, heat, and toxicity. Clearing heat and removing dampness may be the basic principle for its treatment.