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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 294 - 305

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.003

Original Articles

Xiaotan Sanjie recipe (消痰散结方) suppressed the oncogenic potential of cancer-associated fibroblasts via the stromal-derived factor 1α/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 pathway in gastric cancer

  • ZHAO Ying ,
  • ZHU Zhenxin ,
  • YU Zhihong ,
  • XIU Lijuan ,
  • LIU Yongying ,
  • LU Ye ,
  • WEI Pinkang
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  • 1 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
    2 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
    3 Cancer Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, China
WEI Pinkang, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China. czzyk73_W@163.com

Received date: 2024-10-25

  Accepted date: 2025-05-29

  Online published: 2026-04-04

Supported by

National Nature Science Foundation of China: The Role and Mechanism of Xiaotan Sanjie Decoction on Cell Migration and Invasion in Gastric Cancer based on Cancer-associated Fibroblasts Proliferation and Related Factor Expression in Tumor Microenvironment(81603524)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact and mechanism of action of Xiaotan Sanjie (消痰散结方, XTSJ) on the invasiveness and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) by modulating cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). MKN-45 cells were used in in vitro experiments, and an in vivoxenograft model was established for further analysis.

METHODS: Two types of fibroblasts, CAFs and normal fibroblasts, were isolated from the tissue sample of two patients following GC surgery. The in vitro and in vivoexperiments were treated with XTSJ. Immun-ohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to assess levels of Vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). The quantities of interleukin-6 (IL-6), stromal-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA.

RESULTS: The results indicated that CAFs significantly enhance the migration and invasion of GC cells compared to NFs. However, following treatment with XTSJ, CAF’s ability to promote GC was reduced. XTSJ treatment significantly inhibited CAF proliferation and downregulated the expression of CAF-associated cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, VEGF, and SDF-1α. The SDF-1α/ CXCR4 signaling pathway is a potential key mechanism through which CAFs impact GC invasion.

CONCLUSION: XTSJ treatment inhibited tumor-promoting capabilities in CAFs, suppressing GC progression, invasion, and metastasis. This study offers empirical support for the potential clinical application of XTSJ in treating and preventing GC metastasis.

Key words： cancer-associated fibroblast; gastric cancer; metastasis; stromal-cell-derived factor; chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4; Xiaotan Sanjie recipe

Cite this article

ZHAO Ying , ZHU Zhenxin , YU Zhihong , XIU Lijuan , LIU Yongying , LU Ye , WEI Pinkang . Xiaotan Sanjie recipe (消痰散结方) suppressed the oncogenic potential of cancer-associated fibroblasts via the stromal-derived factor 1α/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 pathway in gastric cancer[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 294 -305 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.003

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