Background: The incidence of breast cancer worldwide is still high. Surgery remains
the top choice with other modalities of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy
such as Artemisia vulgaris (AV). The study was aimed to demonstrate that
administration of AV extract increased p53 expression and the apoptotic index in
mammary adenocarcinoma.
Methods: This study used a "Post-test only control group design" on 24 females C3H
mice that were randomly selected and divided into four groups: group K (control), P1
(chemotherapy), P2 (extract), and P3 (combination). Mammary adenocarcinoma
comes from the inoculation of donor mice. Chemotherapy of Adriamycin 0,18 mg and
Cyclophosphamide 1,8 mg were given in 2 cycles. AV 13 mg (0.2 ml) was given once
daily orally. IL-12 and granzyme expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical
staining.
Results: Mean of IL-12 and Granzyme expression were found in groups K, P1, P2,
P3 were 50,40 ± 1,56, 60,28 ± 1,54, 53,48 ± 1,35, 75,40 ± 1,46 dan 14,96 ± 0,61,
24,86 ± 1,21, 17,14 ± 1,02, 26,62 ± 0,70. The statistical analysis showed that there
were significant differences in the IL-12 between groups of K vs P1 (0,001), P1 vs P2
(0,001), K vs P2 (0,028), P1 vs P3 (0,001), K vs P3 (0,001), P2 vs P3 (0,001) and in
granzyme expression between groups of K vs P1 (0,001), P1 vs P2 (0,001), K vs P2
(0,010), P1 vs P3 (0,047), K vs P3 (0,001), P2 vs P3 (0,001). Correlation analysis
between IL-12 and Granzyme expression were found significant correlation (p =
0,001 and r = -0,911).
Conclusion: Artemisia vulgaris can improve the effectivity of AdriamycinCyclophosphamide chemotherapy on C3H mice with mammary adenocarcinoma in
terms of elevated IL-12 and Granzyme expression.