title: Antitumor effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on cultured human pancreatic cancer cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Junming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Bingxiu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yanru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Chunhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014212:Tretinoin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase