Extracts of porcine pancreas prevent progression of hypercalcemia and cachexia and prolong survival in nude mice bearing a human squamous carcinoma.
Porcine pancreatic extracts (PXs) have previously been shown to decrease blood ionized calcium in BALB/c mice (T. Yoneda, Y. Takaoka, and G. R. Mundy. FEBS Lett., 278: 171-174, 1991). In the present study, we show that the PX is effective in preventing progression of hypercalcemia and decreasing osteoclastic bone resorption associated with a human squamous carcinoma in nude mice. PX inhibited osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures and bone resorption in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones which had been stimulated by serum-free culture supernatants of this cancer. In addition, PX increased food intake, decreased weight loss, and prevented development of cachexia. In parallel with these effects, PX prolonged survival of tumor-bearing animals. PX might have therapeutic potential for management of hypercalcemia and cachexia associated with malignancy.
Yoneda
T
T
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284.
Takaoka
Y
Y
Boyce
B F
BF
Scott
L
L
Mundy
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy; D002100:Cachexia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013552:Swine; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014020:Tissue Extracts; D002118:Calcium