3.6 HE Staining Analysis

3.6 HE Staining Analysis

Model Control Group: Cancer cells are closely arranged, with enlarged volume and irregular morphology. The nuclei are enlarged and numerous, with mitotic figures, and the cells overlap each other, making their boundaries indistinct.

High-Dose Group: Cancer cells have reduced volume, with pyknosis of the nuclei and fewer mitotic figures compared with the model group. Necrotic cells are observed, and the intercellular spaces are widened.

Medium-Dose Group: Nuclei also show pyknosis, with a marked reduction in mitotic figures. Extensive necrosis is seen, and the intercellular spaces of tumor cells are significantly enlarged.

Low-Dose Group: Not much different from the high-dose group.

Cantharidin Group: Tumor cells are more dispersed than in the model group, with nuclear pyknosis and fewer mitotic figures. Some areas of necrosis can be seen. (Appendix Figure 1 shows the HE staining images)

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4 Discussion

Pei’s Soft Liver and Anti-Bloating Pill was developed by Mr. Pei based on more than forty years of clinical experience. It is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation with effects such as reinforcing vital energy and consolidating the root, breaking blood stasis and removing blood stasis, soothing the liver and regulating qi, clearing heat and detoxifying, softening hard masses and dispersing nodules. It has remarkable efficacy in treating advanced and late-stage liver cancer cases where surgical options are limited, achieving direct tumor-killing and anti-cancer effects. When used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it can also alleviate their side effects and improve patients’ quality of life. This experiment further investigated the mechanism of this drug, calculated the tumor inhibition rate and thymus-spleen index in H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice, measured serum IL-12 levels using ELISA, and determined Ang-2 expression in tumor tissue through immunohistochemistry, exploring the relationship between Pei’s Soft Liver and Anti-Bloating Pill and tumor angiogenesis.