3.3.4 Promoting Induced Differentiation of Cancer Cells

3.3.4 Promoting Induced Differentiation of Cancer Cells

In the pathogenesis of malignant tumors, abnormal cell differentiation—both morphological and functional—plays a very important role. In recent years, a new approach to treating tumors has been to promote induced differentiation of tumor cells. Traditional Chinese medicine demonstrates unique advantages in this area by inducing cancer cells to transform into normal morphology and function. Huang Wei found that glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid can reduce the proliferation of primary liver cancer Be-17402 cells and induce a decrease in the nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, thereby promoting differentiation and reversal. Zeng Xiaoli and Zhang Rui also discovered that total saponins from ginseng can induce cancer cells to differentiate normally, even causing nuclear condensation, increased mitochondria, heterochromatin, and glycogen, as well as enlargement of the Golgi apparatus. Liu Ping further proved that medicated serum containing qi-tonifying and yin-nourishing herbs (such as Astragalus, Atractylodes, Ophiopogon, and Glehnia) is highly effective in inhibiting the proliferation of liver cancer cells and inducing their differentiation. Zhou Jianfeng's research on these herbs also confirms this point. Herbal compound formulas that induce liver cancer cell differentiation include Huang Jinling's modified Xiaoxianxiong decoction and Hu Bing's Longli capsules, both of which demonstrate that herbal compound formulas significantly inhibit tumor cell differentiation; Longli capsules, for instance, can induce differentiation in HCC-9204 cells and reduce AFP secretion.