Antiangiogenic effect of gemcitabine following metronomic administration in a pancreas cancer model

Gemcitabine shows a marked antitumor effect as a result of its cytotoxic action toward proliferative cells. In this article, we aim to investigate the potential antitumor and antiangiogenic effect of gemcitabine following a metronomic schedule that involves the regular administration of cytotoxic dr...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Laquente, Berta, Lacasa Salavert, Cristina, Ginestà, Mireia M., Casanovas i Casanovas, Oriol, Figueras i Amat, Agnès, Galán, Maica, García Ribas, Ignacio, Germà Lluch, José Ramón, Capellá, G. (Gabriel), Viñals Canals, Francesc
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2008
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/120520
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/120520
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Medicaments antineoplàstics
Quimioteràpia del càncer
Càncer de pàncrees
Angiogènesi
Antineoplastic agents
Cancer chemotherapy
Pancreas cancer
Neovascularization
Description
Summary:Gemcitabine shows a marked antitumor effect as a result of its cytotoxic action toward proliferative cells. In this article, we aim to investigate the potential antitumor and antiangiogenic effect of gemcitabine following a metronomic schedule that involves the regular administration of cytotoxic drugs at doses lower than standard treatment. In vitro results showed that human endothelial cells are more sensitive to gemcitabine (IC50 3 nmol/L) than pancreatic tumor cells (IC50 20 nmol/L). For in vivo studies, we used an orthotopic implantation model of human pancreatic carcinoma in nude mice. Gemcitabine was administered i.p. following a low-dose schedule (1 mg/kg/d for a month) and compared with the conventional schedule (100 mg/kg days 0, 3, 6, and 9 postimplantation). Metronomic treatment effect on established tumor was equivalent to standard administration. The measure of CD31 endothelial marked area allowed us to show an in vivo antiangiogenic effect of this drug that was further enhanced by using metronomic administration. This effect correlated with an induction of thrombospondin-1, a natural inhibitor of angiogenesis. Our results allow us to hypothesize that, in addition to a direct antiproliferative or cytotoxic antiendothelial cell effect, a secondary effect involving thrombospondin-1 induction might provide an explanation for the specificity of the effects of metronomic gemcitabine treatment.