Avastin® in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin significantly inhibits tumor angiogenesis and increases the survival rate of human A549 tumor-bearing mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Avastin® in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) on the tumor growth of A549 tumor-bearing mice and the potential anti-tumor mechanism. A total of 30 human A549 tumor-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into the Avastin, chemotherapy and combined treatment groups for treatment with an intraperitoneal injection of Avastin (5 mg/kg) (Avastin group); an intraperitoneal injection of gemcitabine (4 mg/kg) and cisplatin (4 mg/kg) (chemotherapy group); or intraperitoneal injections of Avastin and GP (combined treatment group). The mice were observed for 30 days and the tumor growth, survival and body weight of the mice in the three groups were analyzed.

Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-converting enzyme and ErbB3 in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated not only with airway inflammation characterized by mucin hypersecretion but also with systemic inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is found to take part in systemic inflammation, and ErbB3 plays an important role in mucin hypersecretion of COPD. Since TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) is involved in the activation of both TNF-alpha and ErbB3, we established rat models of COPD to investigate the expressions of TACE, TNF-alpha and ErbB3 and to explore the correlations among TACE, TNF-alpha and ErbB3 respectively.