title: Gemcitabine treatment of experimental C6 glioma: the effects on cell cycle and apoptotic rate.
abstract: Gemcitabine (dFdCyd) is a deoxycytidine analogue showing a broad spectrum of cytotoxic activity; additionally, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, it is a potent radiosensitiser. Its in vitro and in vivo effects were studied on C6 rat glioma. In vitro, dFdCyd induced an increase in S-phase cells at the end of treatment, with a reduction in G1 and G2 cell cycle-phase cells and relevant effects on the apoptotic rate. The in vivo effects of dFdCyd were studied on rats bearing intracranial C6 glioma. The drug was administered at a dose of 120 mg/Kg every 3 days x 4 doses. A significant effect on tumour growth was detected by longitudinal MRI analyses. Furthermore, the drug induced an inhibitory effect on tumour growth, 72 h after a 300 mg/Kg single dose. Analyses performed on tumour specimens showed relevant G1-phase accumulation and about 45% apoptotic cells. The present results justify further studies to determine the potential efficacy of dFdCyd in the treatment of malignant gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy. carapella@ifo.it
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carpinelli
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Igea
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Agnano
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canese
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caroli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raus
authors.forename: Ercole
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannarelli
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Podo
authors.forename: Carmine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carapella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine