title: The synergistic effect of rapamycin combined with 5-fluorouracil in BALB/cByJNarl mice bearing CT-26 tumor cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect of rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, combined with 5-fluorouracil treatment on CT-26 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells implanted into BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experiments were carried out: treatment from day 1 after CT-26 cell implantation; and treatment from day 7 after CT-26 cell implantation after the detection of a tumor mass. There were four groups in each experiment: control; treatment with 5-fluorouracil; with rapamycin; and with rapamycin with 5-fluorouracil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rapamycin combined with 5-fluorouracil significantly reduced tumor size, suppressed expression of B-cell lymphoma 2, increased tumor apoptosis, and inhibited mTOR signaling activity by de-phosphorylation of S6K.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results strongly suggest that rapamycin might increase the chemosensitization of tumor cells. Rapamycin combined with 5-fluorouracil treatment had a synergistic tumor-inhibition effect. Future research on rapamycin is required to develop new therapeutic strategies.
authors: Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Te-Hsin
authors: TH
authors: Chao
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Geng-Ruei
authors: GR
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Wen-Ying
authors: WY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Po-Lin
authors: PL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. fcmao@nchu.edu.tw.
authors: Frank Chiahung
authors: FC
authors: Mao
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011897:Random Allocation; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D005472:Fluorouracil; D020123:Sirolimus
keywords: 5-fluorouracil; Rapamycin; mammalian target of rapamycin