Effect of Grape Procyanidins on Tumor Angiogenesis in Liver Cancer Xenograft Models

Background: In recent years a wide variety of flavonoids or polyphenolic substances have been reported topossess substantial anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic activities. Grape proanthocyanidins (GPC) are consideredas good examples for which there is evidence of potential roles as anti-carcinogenic agents.
Methods: A xenograftmodel was established using H22 cells subcutaneously injected into mice and used to assess different concentrationsof grape proanthocyanidins (GPC) and Endostar. Treatments were maintained for 10 days, then levels of vascularendothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) were examined by immunohistochemistry,while VEGF mRNA was determined by real-time PCR in tumor tissue.
Results: The expression of MVD andVEGF decreased gradually as the concentration of GPC increased.There was a significant positive correlationbetween MVD and VEGF.
Conclusions: These results suggest that GPC restrains the growth of tumor, possiblyby inhibiting tumour angiogenesis.