Antitumor effect of polyphyllin D on liver metastases of neuroblastoma

Purpose: We previously reported that polyphyllin D, a main component of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Paris polyphylla , exhibited anticancer effects in vitro against human neuroblastoma cells. The aim of this investigation was to examine the presence or absence of in vivo anti-metastasis effects of polyphyllin D. Methods: Subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumors, and metastasis models were established in immune-deficient BALB/c nude and BALB/c Rag-2/Jak3 double-deficient (BRJ) mice using the human neuroblastoma cell lines IMR-32, LA-N-2, or NB-69. For evaluating polyphyllin D activity, we used a mouse model of metastasis of the IMR-32 cell line and analyzed the livers of the phosphate buffer solution- and polyphyllin D- treated groups. Results: Liver metastasis and intraperitoneal dissemination models were successfully established in immune-deficient BRJ mice using the three human neuroblastoma cell lines. In the liver metastasis model, we found that polyphyllin D suppressed both the number and total area of metastatic foci. Conclusions: We developed a mouse model of neuroblastoma metastasis and demonstrated for the first time that polyphyllin D has an antitumor effect on neuroblastoma liver metastases.