DT: Study concept and design, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation. PP: Study concept and design, measurement of biological samples, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation. All authors read and approved

the final manuscript.”
“Background Accumulating evidence has indicted that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the roots of oncogenesis, cancer relapse and metastasis as they are resistant to all conventional selleck screening library therapies, even the advanced targeted therapy [[1–6]]. To date, CSCs have been identified in leukemia [7], breast cancer [8], brain cancer [9], prostate cancer [10], gastrointestinal cancer [11], and other cancers with various techniques. One of them, the side population cell sorting analysis, is now capable of isolating cells which contain CSCs [[12–17]]. CSCs have the ability to exclude the DNA binding dye, Hoechst33342 through an adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporter. Recently, SP cells have been identified in multiple solid tumors and cancer cell

lines including breast cancer cell line MCF-7 [[12–17]]. SP cells exhibit characteristics similar Temsirolimus to CSCs because of their ability to proliferate indefinitely and to enrich more tumorigenic cells than other populations. These rare cells have the potential to survive conventional therapeutics and regenerate cancer populations, leading to relapse and metastasis. Hence, SP cells are known as cancer stem-like cells and are a target for improved cancer therapy. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), commonly known as the Yanshu Injection, is extracted from two herbs Kushen

(Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) and Baituling (Rhizoma smilacis Glabrae) with the primary components being oxymatrine and matrine [18]. The fingerprint of CKI is provided as additional file 1. CKI has been extensively used alone for cancer patients or in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in Chinese clinical settings for many years. Previous clinical studies have shown that CKI attenuates side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by improving the quality of life, regulating the immune function of cancer patients and synergizes the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well [19, 20]. It has been demonstrated Selleckchem Palbociclib that CKI suppresses tumor cell growth by inducing apoptosis [21] and inhibits the migration, invasion and adhesion capacity by down-regulating the expression of CD44v6 protein [22]. However, the underlying anti-cancer mechanisms are not fully understood. The abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and subsequent upregulation of β-catenin driven www.selleckchem.com/products/Imatinib-Mesylate.html downstream targets — c-Myc and CyclinD1 is associated with the development of breast cancer [23]. Recent studies indicate that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the maintenance of CSCs [[24–27]]. In addition, Wnt signaling pathway is also activated in SP breast cancer cells in vitro [14, 27].