Fig. 5

Luteolin suppresses in vivo growth of MPA-accelerated human T47-D breast cancer cells in a xenograft model. a Protocol for xenograft tumor growth and treatment. An estradiol (E2) pellet was implanted in nude mice and, 2 days later, T47-D cells (1 × 10⁷) were injected subcutaneously into each flank of nude mouse. MPA (10 mg) or placebo pellets were implanted on day 10. When tumors reached approximately 60 mm³, treatment with luteolin (LU) (20 mg/kg) or vehicle began (arrow day 61). LU was injected intraperitoneal (ip) daily for 2 days (loading dose), followed by injections every other day until day 79. b Luteolin suppresses xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Mice were palpated and tumors measured every other day, and tumor volumes calculated as described (Liang et al. 2007). Results represent mean tumor volumes ± SEM [E2 group (E2 pellet + vehicle), n = 3 tumors; E2 + MPA group (MPA pellet + vehicle), n = 7 tumors; E2 + MPA + LU group (MPA pellet + LU), n = 8 tumors]. *Significantly different from MPA (P < 0.05, ANOVA). c Luteolin does not affect animal weights throughout the experiment. Animals were weighed twice weekly. Results represent mean weights ± SEM. *Significantly different from E2 (P < 0.05, ANOVA)