The expression of interferon receptor α/β in human pancreatic cancer in nude mice is essential for tumor response to interferon α treatment.
BACKGROUND
Adjuvant interferon based chemoradiation has rendered promising results against pancreatic cancer. This study evaluated the in vivo effect of interferon α on two human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines implanted in nude.


METHODS
MiaPaCa-2 expressed the interferon α/β receptor and Panc-1 cells did not. Regimen I consisted of intraperitoneal single-agent gemcitabine and Regimen II consisted of IFN-α and gemcitabine biweekly for 30 d.


RESULTS
Regimen I and II significantly decreased median tumor volume compared with control mice (P < 0.001). However, MiaPaCa-2 showed a more dramatic response to Regimen II compared with Panc-1 implanted mice. MiaPaCa-2 and treated with Regimen II showed less metastasis and less local invasion compared with Panc-1 treated with same regimen. Regimen II was more effective on MiaPaCa-2 compared with Regimen I (P < 0.001). There were no differences between Regimens I and II in the Panc-1 group.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice with interferon α and gemcitabine was associated with a reduction in tumor volume. This process was more prominent in the cells that express the interferon receptors.
Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts S6-426, USA. Reza.Saidi@umassmemorial.org
Reza F
RF
Saidi
Ahmad
A
Ahad
Jacqueline
J
Tilak
Ilke
I
Nalbantoglu
Michael J
MJ
Jacobs
D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D000093542:Gemcitabine