Abstract
Primary tumour treatment by surgical resection and adjuvant therapy has been extensively studied, but there is a lack of effective strategies and drugs for the treatment of tumour metastases. Here, we show a functional combined product based on their individual well-known mechanisms for inhibiting cancer metastases, improving anti-cancer treatment, and enhancing immunity and antioxidant capacity as an adjuvant therapy. MVBL, our designed combination, consists of four inexpensive compounds: L-Se-methylselenocysteine, D-α-tocopheryl succinate, β-carotene and L-lysine. In this study, MVBL exhibited higher toxicity toward tumour cells than toward normal cells. It did not significantly affect the cancer cell cycle but increased their apoptosis. Wound healing, adhesion, and transwell assays showed that MVBL significantly inhibited tumour cell migration, adhesion and invasion. MVBL sensitized MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to paclitaxel, indicating that MVBL had a synergistic effect as an adjuvant. In addition, animal experimental data showed that MVBL inhibited mouse tumour cell metastasis, prolonged survival time, and enhanced antioxidant capacity and immune function in mice. In summary, this study reveals the roles of MVBL in improving immunity and antioxidation, preventing tumour growth, and inhibiting metastasis in vitro and in vivo. MVBL may be used as an adjuvant cancer therapy for improving survival and quality of life among cancer patients.