title: Cytotoxic action of phorbol esters on human pancreatic cancer cells.
abstract: We previously showed that phorbol esters are cytotoxic to human thyroid epithelial cells expressing a mutant RAS oncogene. Here we explore the generality of this finding using cells derived from pancreatic cancer, which, like thyroid, shows a high frequency of RAS mutation, but is a much greater cause of cancer mortality. The response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and related agents was assessed on a panel of 9 pancreatic cancer cell lines, using a range of assays for cell growth and death in vitro and in vivo. In most lines, PMA induced non-apoptotic cell death which was, surprisingly, independent of its "classic" target, protein kinase C. With 24 hr exposure, the IC(50) in the most sensitive line (Aspc-1) was <1 ng/ml (1.6 nM), with survival undetectable at concentrations >/=>/=16 nM, and after only 1 hr exposure the IC(50) was still </=</=16 nM. Interestingly, the efficacy of a second phorbol ester, phorbol dibutyrate, was much lower, and the PMA analogue bryostatin-1, which is in clinical trials against other tumour types, was totally inactive. Pre-treatment of Aspc-1 cells with PMA before subcutaneous inoculation into nude mice prevented, or greatly retarded, subsequent xenograft tumour growth. Furthermore, treatment of established tumours with a single peri-tumoral injection of PMA induced extensive cell death and arrested tumour development. Taken together with recent Phase 1 clinical studies, these data suggest that activity against pancreatic cancer will be attainable by systemic administration of PMA, and point to potential novel therapeutic targets for this highly aggressive cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Andreas J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gescher
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Verschoyle
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiltshire
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynford-Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008301:Maleimides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000076250:Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008301:Maleimides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D000076250:Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D011493:Protein Kinase C; C070515:bisindolylmaleimide I; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate