title: Apoptosis-induction and phosphorylation state in human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts following octreotide treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some exocrine pancreatic carcinomas are responsive to hormonal manipulations, but the mechanism is not fully understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human pancreatic cancer xenografts (PZX-15/F4) grown in immunosuppressed mice were treated with Sandostatin (2 x 100 micrograms/b.w. s.c.) for 4 weeks. Mitotic and apoptotic activities were assessed and supplemented with immunohistochemical detection of phosphotyrosine and bcl-2 protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treated group 5/16 tumors exhibited a 20-68% volume reduction, and the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased (18.1 +/- 3.1/mm2 vs. 6.2 +/- 1.1/mm2 in controls, P < 0.0012). At the same time, a highly significant reduction in the number of the phosphotyrosine-positive tumor cells was observed (40.9% from 64.9%; P < 0.0001). The mitotic activity did not change significantly. Both the untreated and the treated tumors proved to be bcl-2 negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that the octreotide triggered an apoptosis-induction in a human pancreatic cancer xenograft, coupled with the increased dephosphorylation state in the tumors, but the mitotic activity was not affected and bcl-2 expression has not been induced.
authors: 1st Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Ullöi út 26, Hungary. zalatnai@korbl.sote.hu
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zalatnai
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Pogány
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008940:Mitotic Index; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D015282:Octreotide