The Combined Effects of 5-Fluorouracil and Turkish Propolis Extract on EPGF and KRAS Expressions and Apoptotic Cascade Changing in Rat Colon Cancer Model

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Turkish propolis extract on the colon cancer model induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in Wistar rats. Study groups were designed as cancer group (AOM), control group, AOM+5-FU group, AOM+propolis group, AOM+Propolis+5-FU group. The findings showed that there was a significant decrease in WBC, and lymphocyte levels in the treatment groups AOM+5FU and AOM+Propolis+5FU compared to the AOM group (p˂0.0001, p˂0.005, respectively). The decrease in TAS level and increase in TOS level (p˂0.0001) were found to be significant in the AOM+Propolis+5FU group compared to the AOM group (p˂0.0001). Compared to the the AOM group, caspase-3, caspase-8 and Bax levels were significantly increased and BCL-2 level was significantly lower in the 5 AOM+Propolis+5FU group (p˂0.0001, p˂0.05, p˂0.0001, p˂0.0001, respectively). In the 5-FU and propolis used-therapy groups, decreased anaplasia in colonic cells. In conclusion, we strongly believe that as a chemotherapeutic, 5-FU, and propolis might have a stopper effect on cellular anaplasia over extrinsic apoptotical pathway. We also believe that this antiproliferative effect on cellular anaplasia can appear if the combined therapy is preferred. The therapeutic dose selection is clearly important for this.