Antitumor effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on cultured human pancreatic cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
Although it is uncommon, pancreatic cancer is known to have a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the inhibitory effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on cell growth, cell cycle and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 in vitro.


METHODS
Human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells were treated by various concentrations of ATRA, and then the cell growth was determined by MTT viability assay. Cell cycle distribution and ALP activity were analyzed by flow cytometry and chemical analyzer, respectively.


RESULTS
ATRA inhibited the growth of PANC-1 cells grown in culture; a dose-dependent inhibitory influence was found. ATRA arrested PANC-1 cells at G2/M phase. The ALP activity of PANC-1 cells was significantly increased by 1-50 micromol/L ATRA.


CONCLUSIONS
The antitumor effects of ATRA on human pancreatic cancer cells are associated with G2/M phase arrest and increased ALP activity.
Guo
Junming
J
Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China.
Xiao
Bingxiu
B
Lou
Yanru
Y
Yan
Chunhong
C
Zhan
Li
L
Wang
Donghui
D
Zhao
Weihong
W
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014212:Tretinoin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase