Effect of bromocriptine on the sensitivity of pituitary tumor cells to radiation.
GH3 cells, a PRL-secreting rat pituitary tumor cell line, are sensitive to bromocriptine, and provide a useful model for the present studies. GH3 cells, in the presence or absence of 2.5 x 10(-5) M bromocriptine, were irradiated at doses ranging from 0 to 10 Gy. After irradiation the bromocriptine was washed out, cells were seeded at a density of 10,000 cells/ml, and growth curves were obtained by counting the cell number at weekly intervals for 1 month. Cell growth was inhibited by the radiation in a dose-dependent fashion, with complete inhibition of cell growth by 9 Gy. However, no protection against radiation damage was afforded by bromocriptine. These results might suggest that the combined therapies of tumor shrinkage by bromocriptine and stereotactic irradiation of the sella might be a useful clinical therapeutic strategy, particularly in patients with large tumors, severe hyperprolactinemia, and pre-existing hypopituitarism.
Wang
C J
CJ
Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Howng
S L
SL
D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
D001971:Bromocriptine