Chinese Medicine Enhancing Response Rates to Immunosuppressant PD-L1 Inhibitor and Improving the Quality of Life of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Bearing Mice

Abstract

Background: Malignant tumors are a significant disease endangering human health. Chinese Medicine (CM) plays an important role in comprehensive and holistic tumor treatment. Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether CM combined with the immunosuppressant PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor has a good synergistic effect and can significantly improve response rates for the immunosuppressant. Methods: We combined CM with immunosuppressant in treating six-week-old hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing mice and compared the outcomes of groups undergoing different interventions: blank group, control group, CM group, PD-L1 inhibitor group, and CM + PD-L1 inhibitor group, with ten mice in each group. The quality of life was evaluated along with the tumor inhibition effects and growth rates. Results: CM significantly reduced tumor load and improved the quality of life of cancer-bearing mice. The survival rate was 81.8% in the control group, 100% in the CM group, 90.9% in the PD-L1 inhibitor group, and 100% in the combined group in the first week. The survival rate was 45.5% in the control group, 54.5% in the CM group, 81.8% in the PD-L1 inhibitor group, and 81.8% in the combined group in the second week. 38% mice in the CM+PD-L1 inhibitor group with smaller tumor size than the average of the control group, which was much higher than other treatment groups. CM also reduced the expression of JAK2 mRNA and STAT3 mRNA, although not significantly (P > 0.05), and reduced PD-L1 mRNA in tumor tissue compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: CM had a synergistic effect on PD-L1 inhibitors and increased response rates to PD-L1 inhibitor treatment.