title: Enhancement of prostate cancer xenograft growth with whole-body radiation and vascular endothelial growth factor.
abstract: Prostate cancer research has been limited by the slow growth of human prostate tumors In athymic rodent models. This study sought to determine if low-dose radiation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could enhance the development of PC-3 human prostate adenocarcinoma xenotransplanted into nude mice. Whole body radiation (2 Gy) was delivered only once, whereas VEGF (39 ng total/mouse) was injected subcutaneously over a 17-day period. The combination of the two agents, compared to nontreated controls, resulted in significantly higher tumor incidence (100% versus 50%) and more-rapid tumor progression (1288 mm3 versus 190 mm3 by day 60). Treatment-associated changes were observed in body weights and assays of blood and spleen cells. In addition, 3H-thymidine uptake by PC-3 cells cultured in the presence of VEGF and transforming growth factor-beta 1 was compared. These results show that low-dose, whole-body radiation and VEGF can be used in concert safely and effectively to facilitate growth of PC-3 prostate tumor and that the mechanisms of interaction may involve leukocyte modulation.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University/Independent Order of Foresters Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, CA 92350, USA. dgridley@ccmail.llu.edu
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gridley
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors