Objective: To observe the effect of a combination of traditional Chinese herbs Dihuang Guanshitong Granules on the rat model of esophageal cancer after rradiotherapy for inducing apoptosis and the c- myc

TERT protein expression. Method: Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups.They were treated with MANA 5 mg ·kg-1 by subsutaneous injection except control group(the normal).After the model was successful

the model rats were treated with Intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital anesthesia and local esophageal radiation by cobalt60 except the model group rats.The rats were randomly divided into the radiotherapy group

the Dihuang Guanshitong high

middle

low dose(5

10

15 g ·kg-1) groups

the Liuwei Dihuang Wan(4.5 g ·kg-1) group after the last radiation.Then they were administered. TUNEL assay was used to examine the promotion on apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells. Immunohisto -chemistry (IHC) technique was used to measure the expression of c-myc and TERT protein in cells. Result: ① The esophageal cancer cells were apoptic according to the result of TUNEL assay in all the groups.The granules was more obvious and the high-dosage group was the most. ②Immunohistochemical results showed that c-myc protein expression in model group were increased than that in the radiation group. The drug therapy group were reduced by different degree and the high-dosage group were more obvious(P<0.05). The comparison between the high-dosage groups and radiation therapy group was significant(P<0.05). ③TERT protein expression of each drug groups were tending to decrease compared with that in radiotherapy group.The high

middle

low dosage groups were significant(P<0.01

P<0.05). Conclusion: Apoptosis is likely one of the mechanisms of Dihuang Guanshitong Granules to kill esophageal cancer cells.This is related with inhibiting c-myc

TERT protein expression. The granules can decrease side effects after chemotherapy and prevent of recurrence.