Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Qianjin Weijing prescription (QJWJ) on promoting apoptosis of the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma SAS and TCA-8113 with serum withdrawal. Method: The SAS and TCA-8113 were treated with serum withdrawal to imitate the condition caused by the chemical therapy of anti-angiogenesis. The assistant effects on anti-tumor of three parts extracted from QJWJ were investigated by SAS and TCA-8113 with serum withdrawal in vitro. MTT assay was used to evaluate the activities of cell proliferation

and flow cytometric analysis was conducted to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The level of the prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in the cell culture supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: In comparison with the control

the results showed the 07 part of QJWJ could distinctly promote the inhibitory effects on the activities of cell proliferation in SAS and TCA-8113 cells. The maximum growth inhibition rate 34.36%

and the apoptosis of human squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05) by flow cytometric analysis. The level of the PGE2 in the cell culture supernatant was inhibited by 07 part of the QJWJ by ELISA assay(P<0.05). Conclusion: The results suggested that the promoted effects of QJWJ on apoptosis of the hunman tongue squamous cell carcinoma with serum withdrawal was mediated by the inhibition of PGE2 releasing. The research provided a new way to explore the scientific interests of QJWJ in adjuvant treatment of malignant cancers.