Objective:To explore the effect of Erzhi pills on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) in brest cancer induced by 7

12-dimethylbenz(a) anthrancene (DMBA) in rats. Method: Sixty female SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:the blank control group

the DMBA model group

the high

middle

low dose (6.4

3.2

1.6 g·kg-1

respectively) Erzhi Pills group and tamoxifen (TAM) group. All model rats were induced by DMBA (100 mg·kg-1

twice

every two weeks)

palpated weekly to monitor the progress of the tumor and body weight were also recorded weekly. At the end of trial

the incidence of breast tumors in each group was calculated. And the expressions of VEGF and MMP-9 in breast cancer tissues were detected using immunohistochemical SP method. Result: Comparing with the DMBA model group

the breast cancer incidence

number and volume of tumor in the middle dose of Erzhi pills group and TAM group decreased significantly(P＜0.05). The strong-positive rates of VEGF and MMP-9 were significantly higher in the group treated with middle and high dose of Erzhi pills than DMBA model group(P＜0.05)

and VEGF expression was positively correlated with MMP-9 expression in breast cancer. Conclusion: Erzhi pills might inhibit the progress and deterioration of breast cancer through regulating the expressions of VEGF and MMP-9.