BACKGROUND: Previous research showed that granulized Fu-Zheng-Xiao-Liu has a significant effect on breast cancer. However, it remains unclear whether HER-2 plays a role in this anti-cancer effect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum of male SD rats administered Fu-Zheng-Xiao-Liu granules (SF) was prepared and used to treat HER-2 positive breast cancer cell line SKBR-3. PBS and herceptin were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. MTT was used to detect the proliferation of SKBR-3 cells. Flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis of SKBR-3 cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to measure the expression change of HER-2.

RESULTS: Serum of male SD rats administered Fu-Zheng-Xiao-Liu granules had significantly reduced HER-2 expression at both mRNA level and protein level, significantly inhibited proliferation of SKBR-3 cells, and significantly increased apoptosis of SKBR-3 cells, compared to that of the blank control group or serum control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Fu-Zheng-Xiao-Liu granules affect proliferation and apoptosis through inhibition of HER-2 transcription and translation, providing an experimental basis for further study of the mechanism by which Fu-Zheng-Xiao-Liu granules affect breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast Neoplasms - pathology, Apoptosis - genetics, Cell Proliferation - drug effects, Cell Survival - genetics, Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects, RNA, Messenger - metabolism, Receptor, erbB-2 - metabolism, Risk Factors