The Stem Cell Mobilizer StemEnhance® Does Not Promote Tumor Growth in an Orthotopic Model of Human Breast Cancer

Abstract

Bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDSC) have been implicated in tumor formation, though it is not clear whether they contribute to tumor growth. A novel mobilizer of BMDSC (StemEnhance®; SE) was used to investigate whether its daily administration promotes tumor growth. Forty mice were surgically transplanted with human MDA-MB-435-GFP breast cancer into the mammary fat pad of nude mice. The mice were gavaged for six weeks with 300 mg/kg of SE. Tumor growth was monitored using live whole-body fluorescence imaging. At the end of the study, tumors were excised and weighed. At the start of the feeding trial, tumor areas for both control and experimental group were statistically identical. Tumor growth rate was slower in the SE group (p=0.014) when compared to the control group. After 6 weeks, tumor areas were 40% larger in the control p<0.01) and mean tumor weight was 35% smaller in the SE-treated group (0.44 g vs. 0.68 g; p=0.031). Feeding of SE did not promote tumor growth but rather reduced the growth of human MDA-MB-435 breast cancer.