Dehui Li,1,* Xukuo Liu,2,* Huanfang Fan,3 Jingfei Dong,4 Liying Wei,3 Na Guo,3 Zhengrong Wang,3 Zhihua Du,3 Jiao Liu,2 Xiaohui Zhao,2 Xiaotong Tian,2 Changhui Han,3 Xujiong Yao5 

1Department of Oncology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Key Laboratory of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for Gastroenterology Research, Hebei Industrial Technology Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Oncology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Dehui Li, Department of Oncology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Key Laboratory of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for Gastroenterology Research, Hebei Industrial Technology Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation, 389 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, 050000, People’s Republic of China, Email 258289951@qq.com

Purpose: Through network pharmacological prediction and in vitro experimental verification, the mechanism of action of Lianqiao Jinbei Decoction (LJD) in inhibiting HER2-positive breast cancer cells was clarified, providing experimental evidence for its treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Methods: Network pharmacology method was used to construct the potential target network of LJD in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer. After cell culture in vitro, the proliferation of HER2+ SK-BR3 breast cancer cells was investigated using CCK-8 technique. The apoptotic potential of SK-BR3 cells was detected by flow cytometry, and the migration of SK-BR3 cells was detected by cell scratch assay. The expression of HER2 protein in SK-BR3 breast cancer cells was detected by ELISA.
Results: HER2 was identified as the central gene and quercetin, β-sitosterol, and luteolin were the primary active ingredients using network pharmacology analysis. Serum-containing LJD medication can stop SK-BR3 cells from proliferating (P< 0.05). Serum-containing LJD drugs at high, medium, and low concentrations may induce SK-BR3 cell death (P< 0.05). LJD serum at high, medium, and low concentrations reduced the migration of SK-BR3 cells (P< 0.05). The expression of HER2 protein was decreased by LJD high, medium, and low concentration drug-containing serum (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Regarding treating HER2-positive breast cancer, LJD has a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mode of action. The primary target of LJD’s activity is the HER2 protein. Serum-containing LJD medication can prevent SK-BR3 cells from proliferating and migrating while encouraging their apoptosis. This effect may be attained by preventing HER2 protein expression.

Keywords: Lianqiao Jinbei Decoction, HER2-positive breast cancer, network pharmacology, mechanism study