[The synergistic effects of paclitaxel and gemcitabine on prostate cancer cell line PC-3].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the synergistic effects of paclitaxel and gemcitabine on prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in vitro.


METHODS
Cell morphology, MTU, flow cytometer and immunocytochemical method were used to observe the effects of 10(-6), 10(-7), 10(-8) mol/L paclitaxel and 10(-7), 10(-8), 10(-9) mol/L gemcitabine on prostate cancer cell line PC-3 by single or synergistic administration for 48 hours in vitro.


RESULTS
Gemcitabine above 10(-8) mol/L enhanced the growth suppression [suppression ratio > or = (50.8 +/- 4.2)%, P < 0.05] and apoptosis [apoptosis ratio > or = (22.9 +/- 2.3)%, P < 0.05] and down-regulation of the expression of cyclin D1 [expression ratio < or = (9.6 +/- 1.6)%, P < 0.01] induced by paclitaxel above 10(-7) mol/L in PC-3 cells. Gemcitabine changed the ratio of G2/M cell arrest induced by paclitaxel from (70.3 +/- 9.7)% to (38.2 +/- 4.2)%, and reversed the G2/M arrest partially (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel and gemcitabine can enhance the growth suppression and apoptosis induced by paclitaxel in a synergistic way. They show great potential in the treatment of androgen-independent carcinoma of the prostate.
Sun
Ming
M
Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. sunming2003@163.com
Yang
Yuru
Y
Li
Hong
H
Chen
Yirong
Y
Wang
Zhiping
Z
Lu
Yiping
Y
Wei
Qiang
Q
Yue
Zhongjin
Z
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine