JIN Formula Inhibits Tumorigenesis Pathways in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells and Tumor Growth in Athymic Nude Mice

Lung cancer as the most common cancer in the world represents a major public health problem (1). Worldwide it has the highest rate of cancer mortality, exceeding the mortality rates of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers combined (2). Despite major advances in the treatment and management of lung cancer, most patients with lung cancer eventually die of this disease. Because conventional therapies have failed to make a major impact on survival, newer approaches are necessary in the battle against lung cancer. The poor lung cancer survival figures argue powerfully for new approaches to control this disease through chemoprevention, which has been defined as the use of agents that could reverse, suppress or completely halt tumor development. Developing novel mechanism-based chemopreventive approaches for lung cancer which humans can accept has become an important goal. Many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas have been used in cancer therapy. JIN formula, an ancient herbal formula from classical book JIN KUI YAO LUE (Golden Chamber) for the treatment of lung cancer, which is composed of Ophiopogon japonicus 30g, Prepared Rhizoma Pinelliae15g, Ginseng radix 30g, Glycyrrhiza radix 12g, Peach Kernel 15g, Unprepared Coix lachryma jobi seed 30g, Chinese waxgourd seed 30g, and Phragmititis Caulis 30g. TCM theory regarded that lung cancer is related with both deficiency of Qi and Yin, or Qi insufficiency of the Spleen and Lung, as well as pathological changes of Qi stagnation, blood stasis, and accumulation of phlegm and toxin. Whereas, JIN formula could replenish both Qi and Yin, strengthen the Spleen and Lung, clear lung, resolve phlegm, activate blood circulation and remove stasis.