title: Antineoplastic effect of WIN 55,212-2, a cannabinoid agonist, in a murine xenograft model of gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously reported the antineoplastic effects of a cannabinoid agonist in gastric cancer cells. Our aim was to evaluate this in a murine xenograft model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal models were created after injecting AGS gastric cancer cells subcutaneously into the flank of male BALB/c-nude mice. A cannabinoid agonist, WIN 55,212-2 (7 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle was injected around the tumor subcutaneously every 24 h for 14 days. Tumors were explanted for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumor volume decreased by 30% in the WIN 55,212-2-treated group compared to the group treated with vehicle (p < 0.05). Apoptotic cells were found more commonly in the WIN 55,212-2 treatment group than in the control on immunohistochemistry. Compared to the control, WIN 55,212-2 treatment significantly increased caspase-3 cleavage and decreased MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 protein levels significantly (all p < 0.05). VEGF-A protein level was not different between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WIN 55,212-2 has antineoplastic effect on the gastric cancers in in vivo model.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jung Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Oh
authors: Jong Yul
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Myong Ki
authors: MK
authors: Baeg
authors: Ki-Hwan
authors: KH
authors: Han
authors: Myung-Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Choi
authors: Jae Myung
authors: JM
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D053148:Caspase 3; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases