Combination of salinomycin and gemcitabine eliminates pancreatic cancer cells.
Previous research has documented that a subpopulation of pancreatic cancer cells, named cancer stem cells (CSCs), harbor stem cell-like properties. Here, we examined the efficacy of combined treatments of salinomycin and gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer cells. Salinomycin inhibited the growth of CSCs, while gemcitabine suppressed the viability of non-CSCs. Consistently, in vivo studies showed that salinomycin combined with gemcitabine could eliminate the engraftment of human pancreatic cancer more effectively than the individual agents. These data indicated that administration of salinomycin, which targets CSCs, may constitute a potential therapeutic strategy for improving the efficacy of gemcitabine to eradicate pancreatic cancer.
Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
Guan-Nan
GN
Zhang
Yi
Y
Liang
Ling-Jun
LJ
Zhou
Shu-Peng
SP
Chen
Ge
G
Chen
Tai-Ping
TP
Zhang
Tiebang
T
Kang
Yu-Pei
YP
Zhao
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011714:Pyrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D000093542:Gemcitabine; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D011714:Pyrans; D000093542:Gemcitabine; C010327:salinomycin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides