Abstract. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and curcumin on tumor growth and angiogenesis in an orthotopic nude-mouse model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC
(FGF2), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), thrombosis-related factor tissue factor (TF) and coagulation factor VII (FVII), as well as microRNAs miR-122 and miR-221. Results: AS-IV and curcumin alone and in combination significantly reduced mean tumor weight compared to vehicle control (p<0.05). Tumor microvessel count was reduced by AS-IV and curcumin alone. Expression of FGF2, MMP2, VEGF, HGF, TF and FVII was reduced by AS-IV and curcumin alone. AS-IV and curcumin alone up-regulated expression of miR-122 and down-regulated that of miR-221. The combination of AS-IV and curcumin demonstrated significant synergistic effects on microvessel count as well as on expression of angiogenic and thrombosis-related factors and microRNAs. Conclusion: The present study indicates future clinical potential of combination therapy with AS-IV and curcumin for HCC.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and hypervascular tumor, associated with high morbidity (1), and is recalcitrant to therapy (2). Targeting angiogenesis could be an effective therapeutic strategy for controlling the progression of HCC.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used for anticancer treatment in China with a long history. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a representative constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. Var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao and has various pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic (3, 4). Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the chief component of the spice turmeric and is derived from the rhizome of the East Indian plant Curcuma longa. Curcumin exhibits anti inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer efficacy (5). AS-IV was reported to reduce invasiveness and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells and down-regulate the expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and suppress angiogenesis of HCT-116 colon cancer cells (6, 7). Curcumin showed anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenesis efficacy against small-cell lung cancer 465