The traditional Chinese medicinal formula BDL301 suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting STAT3 pathway and inducing apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.

The traditional Chinese medicinal formula BDL301 has been used to inhibit inflammation for hundreds of years. The development of colorectal cancer and chronic inflammation are closely related. In this study, we investigated whether BDL301 could inhibit tumor growth. We found that angiogenesis and tumor growth were both inhibited in vivo. In addition, apoptosis was induced and the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway were suppressed in the colorectal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by BDL301. This study demonstrates that BDL301 exerted significant anticancer activity by inhibiting the STAT3 pathways and inducing apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.