herb extract downregulates her2
 

Cell Biol Toxicol. 2007 Sep 19; [Epub ahead of print]
Downregulation of HER2/neu receptor by solamargine enhances anticancer drug-mediated cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells with high-expressing HER2/neu.

Shiu LY, Liang CH, Huang YS, Sheu HM, Kuo KW.
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Overexpression of HER2/neu is associated with drug resistance and poor outcome in breast cancer. Solamargine (SM), a glycoalkaloid purified from the herb Solanum incanum, exhibits HER2/neu gene modulation of HER2/neu high-expressing human breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1. SM downregulation of HER2/neu gene expression was determined by RT-PCR and Southern hybridization. Additionally, the membrane-bound HER2/neu receptor in highly HER2/neu-expressing breast cancer cells was determined by radioimmunoassay, immunocytochemistry, fluorescent immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. SM significantly decreased the number of HER2/neu receptors on the cell membrane. Methotrexate (MTX), 5-florouracil (5-Fu), and cisplatin (CDDP) are commonly used for breast carcinoma treatment in clinics; however, patients with HER2/neu overexpression exhibit resistance to these anticancer drugs. Notably, combination of MTX, 5-Fu, and CDDP with SM individually increased the susceptibility of breast cancer cells to these chemotherapeutic agents. Experimental results indicated that downregulation of HER2/neu by SM might be an effective strategy for enhancing drug susceptibility of breast cancer cells expressing high levels of HER2/neu.
PMID: 17885815 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

I wonder what is the common name for that herb and where we can get it.

Julie