sulindac and Pancreatic-Neoplasms

When considering surgery for branch duct-intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) with suspected malignancy, it should be recognized that these lesions are frequently multifocal and are usually found in elderly patients with potential comorbidities that could affect the outcome of surgery. Clinical trials of chemoprevention have been conducted for a wide variety of malignancies.. Twenty-two BD-IPMN patients participated in the trial at our institution from June 2004 to January 2007. Ten of the 22 patients who rejected surgical therapy although their lesions or clinical symptoms met the criteria for surgical resection of the International Association of Pancreatology guidelines were assigned to the treatment group. Sulindac (150 mg twice daily) and omeprazole (20 mg once daily) were administered to these patients for 18 months. The remaining 12 patients comprised the control group. Branch duct diameter and mural nodule heights were monitored by either magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or computed tomography (CT) and by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).. Both branch duct diameter and mural nodule height of BD-IPMNs in the treatment group were significantly reduced, while those in the control group were unchanged. Immunohistochemical staining for cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 was negative in hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma portions of resected pancreatic specimens but was clearly positive for glutathione-S-transferase pi (GST-pi), suggesting that GST-pi is a putative target molecule for sulindac.. Although a larger scale randomized controlled study is needed in future, the present results suggest the promise of chemoprevention of carcinoma derived from BD-IPMNs by sulindac.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; Drug Delivery Systems; Endosonography; Female; Glutathione S-Transferase pi; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Omeprazole; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Sulindac; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Using a cytotoxicity-based phenotypic screen of a highly diverse library of 20,000 small-molecule compounds, we identified a quinolin-8-yl-nicotinamide, QN519, as a promising lead. QN519 represents a novel scaffold with drug-like properties, showing potent

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Autophagy; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Niacinamide; Pancreatic Neoplasms

Phospho-sulindac (P-S), a promising anticancer agent, is efficacious in pre-clinical models of human cancer and is apparently safe. Here, we studied the effect of P-S on pancreatic cancer growth. We found that P-S strongly inhibits the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, is efficacious in inhibiting the growth of pancreatic xenografts in nude mice, and has an excellent safety profile. Microarray analysis revealed that P-S induced the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells, isoform c1 (NFATc1) gene. NFATc1, a calcineurin-responsive transcription factor associated with aggressive pancreatic cancer. The role of increased NFATc1 expression on the growth inhibitory effect of P-S on cancer growth was evaluated by silencing or by overexpressing it both in vitro and in vivo. We found that when the expression of NFATc1 was abrogated by RNAi, pancreatic cancer cells were more responsive to treatment with P-S. Conversely, overexpressing the NFATc1 gene made the pancreatic cancer cells less responsive to treatment with P-S. NFATc1 likely mediates drug resistance to P-S and is an unfavorable prognostic factor that predicts poor tumor response. We also demonstrated that NFATc1-mediated resistance can be overcome by cyclosporin A (CsA), an NFAT inhibitor, and that the combination of P-S and CsA synergistically inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth. In conclusion, our preclinical data establish P-S as an efficacious drug for pancreatic cancer in preclinical models, which merits further evaluation.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blotting, Western; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; NFATC Transcription Factors; Organophosphorus Compounds; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Sulindac; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Sulindac has been identified as a competitive inhibitor of aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10), an enzyme that plays a key role in carcinogenesis. AKR1B10 is overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and exhibits lipid substrate specificity, especially for farnesyl and geranylgeranyl. There have been no studies though showing that the inhibition of PDAC by sulindac is via inhibition of AKR1B10, particularly the metabolism of farnesyl/geranylgeranyl and Kras protein prenylation. To determine the chemopreventive effects of sulindac on pancreatic carcinogenesis, 5-week-old LSL-Kras(G12D)-LSL-Trp53(R172H)-Pdx-1-Cre mice (Pan(kras/p53) mice) were fed an AIN93M diet with or without 200 p.p.m. sulindac (n = 20/group). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that average animal survival in Pan(kras/p53) mice was 143.7 ± 8.8 days, and average survival with sulindac was increased to 168.0 ± 8.8 days (P < 0.005). Histopathological analyses revealed that 90% of mice developed PDAC, 10% with metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes. With sulindac, the incidence of PDAC was reduced to 56% (P < 0.01) and only one mouse had lymph node metastasis. Immunochemical analysis showed that sulindac significantly decreased Ki-67-labeled cell proliferation and markedly reduced the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c-Raf and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2. In in vitro experiments with PDAC cells from Pan(kras/p53) mice, sulindac exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of AKR1B10 activity. By silencing AKR1B10 expression through small interfering RNA or by sulindac treatment, these in vitro models showed a reduction in Kras and human DNA-J homolog 2 protein prenylation, and downregulation of phosphorylated C-raf, ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 expression. Our results demonstrate that sulindac inhibits pancreatic carcinogenesis by the inhibition of Kras protein prenylation by targeting AKR1B10.

Topics: Aldehyde Reductase; Aldo-Keto Reductases; Animals; Carcinogenesis; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Homeodomain Proteins; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Mice; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Sulindac; Trans-Activators; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases, with limited surgical and treatment options. Two targets of interest include the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB and cyclooxygenase-2, which are constitutively activated and overexpressed, respectively, in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We have previously shown that dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT), a bioavailable nuclear factor-κB inhibitor, and the cyclooxygenase inhibitors sulindac and celecoxib have potential chemotherapeutic efficacy. The current study evaluates the efficacy of intervention with DMAPT and sulindac in the LSL-Kras(G12D);Pdx-1-Cre genetically engineered mouse model. Gemcitabine, traditionally a chemotherapeutic agent, has relatively low toxicity; thus, combinations with low-dose gemcitabine were also explored.. LSL-Kras(G12D);Pdx-1-Cre mice at 7 months of age were randomized into placebo, DMAPT (40 mg/kg per day), sulindac (20 mg/kg per day), gemcitabine (50 mg/kg twice weekly), and combination treatment groups. After 3 months of treatment, the mice were killed.. The percentage of normal pancreatic ducts was significantly increased by the combinations of DMAPT/sulindac, DMAPT/gemcitabine, sulindac/gemcitabine, and DMAPT/sulindac/gemcitabine compared to placebo. Additionally, the percentage of mouse pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia-2 lesions was significantly decreased by DMAPT/gemcitabine.. Intervention with DMAPT and sulindac in combination with gemcitabine may delay or prevent progression of premalignant pancreatic lesions in the LSL-Kras(G12D);Pdx-1-Cre mouse model of pancreatic cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma in Situ; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cytokines; Disease Progression; Genes, p53; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Mutation; NF-kappa B; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Sesquiterpenes; Sulindac

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sulindac exhibits cyclooxygenase (COX)-dependent and COX-independent chemopreventive properties in human cancer. The present study was aimed at investigating whether the hydroxamic acid substitution for the carboxylic acid group could enhance the in vitro antitumor and antiangiogenic activities of sulindac. Characterization tools used on this study included analyses of cell viability, caspase 3/7 induction, DNA fragmentation, and gene expression. Our findings demonstrate that the newly synthesized hydroxamic acid derivative of sulindac and its sulfone and sulfide metabolites were characterized by a good anticancer activity on human pancreatic and colon cancer cells, both in terms of potency (IC(50) mean values from 6 ± 1.1 μM to 64 ± 1.1 μM) and efficacy (E(max) of ∼100%). Hydroxamic acid derivatives trigger a higher degree of apoptosis than carboxylic acid counterparts, increase bax/bcl-2 expression ratio and induce caspase 3/7 activation. Most notably, these compounds significantly inhibit proangiogenic growth factor-stimulated proliferation of vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) at sub-micromolar concentrations. Our data also provide evidence that the COX-active metabolite of sulindac hydroxamic acid were the most active of the series and selective inhibition of COX-1 but not COX-2 can mimic its effects, suggesting that COX inhibition could only play a partial role in the mechanism of compound action. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that substitution of the carboxylic acid group with the hydroxamic acid moiety enhances in vitro antiproliferative, proapoptotic and antiangiogenic properties of sulindac, therefore increasing the therapeutic potential of this drug.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Caspase 3; Caspase 7; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Sulindac

The design of novel targeted or combination therapies may improve treatment options for pancreatic cancer. Two targets of recent interest are nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and cyclooxygenase (COX), known to be activated or overexpressed, respectively, in pancreatic cancer. We have previously shown that parthenolide, a proapoptotic drug associated with NF-kappaB inhibition, enhanced the growth suppression of pancreatic cancer cells by the COX inhibitor sulindac in vitro. In the present study, a bioavailable analogue of parthenolide, LC-1, and sulindac were evaluated in vivo using a xenograft model of human pancreatic cancer. Treatment groups included placebo, low-dose/high-dose LC-1 (20 and 40 mg/kg), low-dose/high-dose sulindac (20 and 60 mg/kg), and low-dose combination LC-1/sulindac (20 mg/kg each). In MiaPaCa-2 xenografts, tumor growth was inhibited by either high-dose sulindac or LC-1. In BxPC-3 xenografts, tumor size was significantly reduced by treatment with the low-dose LC-1/sulindac combination or high-dose sulindac alone (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry of BxPC-3 tumors revealed a significant decrease in Ki-67 and CD31 staining by high-dose sulindac, with no significant changes in COX-1/COX-2 levels or activity in any of the treatment groups. NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity was significantly decreased by high-dose LC-1. Cyclin D1 protein levels were reduced by the low-dose LC-1/sulindac combination or high-dose sulindac alone, correlating with BxPC-3 tumor suppression. These results suggest that LC-1 and sulindac may mediate their antitumor effects, in part, by altering cyclin D1 levels. Furthermore, this study provides preclinical evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of these agents.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclin D1; Humans; Mice; Mice, Nude; NF-kappa B; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Sesquiterpenes; Sulindac

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in the development of gastrointestinal malignancies. The aim of the present study was to determine COX-2 expression/activity throughout stages of experimental and human pancreatic neoplasia. COX-2 immunohistochemistry was performed in pancreata of hamsters subjected to the carcinogen N-nitrosobis-(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) and in human pancreatic tumors. COX-2 activity was determined by prostaglandin E2 assay in tumor versus matched normal pancreatic tissues. The activity of the COX inhibitor sulindac was tested in the PC-1 hamster pancreatic cancer model. COX-2 expression was elevated in all pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) and adenocarcinomas. In BOP-treated hamsters, there were significant progressive elevations in COX-2 expression throughout pancreatic tumorigenesis. In human samples, peak COX-2 expression occurred in PanIN2 lesions and remained moderately elevated in PanIN3 and adenocarcinoma tissues. COX-2 activity was significantly elevated in hamster and human pancreatic cancers compared to pair-matched normal pancreas. Furthermore, hamster pancreatic tumor engraftment/formation in the PC-1 hamster pancreatic cancer model was reduced 4.9-fold by oral administration of sulindac. Increased COX-2 expression is an early event in pancreatic carcinogeneses. The BOP-induced hamster carcinogenesis model is a representative model used to study the role of COX-2 in well-differentiated pancreatic tumorigenesis. COX inhibitors may have a role in preventing tumor engraftment/formation.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Cricetinae; Cyclooxygenase 2; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mesocricetus; Neoplasm Transplantation; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Sulindac

Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) has been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis. We evaluated the effect of a novel NF-kappa B inhibitor, parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the herb feverfew, in three human pancreatic tumor cell lines (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2). Parthenolide inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with substantial growth inhibition observed between 5 and 10 micromol/L parthenolide in all three cell lines. Parthenolide treatment also dose-dependently increased the amount of the NF-kappa B inhibitory protein, I kappa B-alpha, and decreased NF-kappa B DNA binding activity. We have previously shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) suppress the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. To determine whether inhibition of the NF-kappa B pathway by parthenolide could sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to NSAID inhibition, BxPC-3, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with parthenolide and the NSAID sulindac, either alone or in combination. Treatment with the combination of parthenolide and sulindac inhibited cell growth synergistically in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells and additively in PANC-1 cells. In addition, treatment with the parthenolide/sulindac combination lowered the threshold for apoptosis. Increased levels of I kappa B-alpha protein were detected, especially in MIA PaCa-2 cells, after treatment with parthenolide and sulindac compared with each agent alone. Similarly, decreased NF-kappa B DNA binding and transcriptional activities were detected in cells treated with the combination compared with the single agents, demonstrating cooperative targeting of the NF-kappa B pathway. These data provide preclinical support for a combined chemotherapeutic approach with NF-kappa B inhibitors and NSAIDs for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Humans; Models, Biological; NF-kappa B; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Protein Binding; Sesquiterpenes; Sulindac; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection

Treatment of cultured PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2, and BxPC-3 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells with 0.1 to 1.6 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 96 h inhibited the proliferation of these cells in a dose-dependent manner, and PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells were more sensitive to TPA than BxPC-3 cells. Inhibition of proliferation by TPA in PANC-1 cells was associated with an increase in the level of p21, but this was not observed in MIA PaCa-2 or BxPC-3 cells. The TPA-induced increase of p21 in PANC-1 cells was blocked by bisindolylmaleimide or rottlerin (inhibitors of protein kinase C). Studies in NCr-immunodeficient mice with well established PANC-1 tumor xenografts indicated that daily i.p. injections of TPA strongly inhibited tumor growth, increased the percentage of caspase-3-positive cells, and decreased the ratio of mitotic cells to caspase-3-positive cells in the tumors. Studies with BxPC-3 tumors in NCr mice receiving daily i.p. injections of vehicle, TPA, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), or a TPA/ATRA combination showed that TPA had an inhibitory effect on tumor growth, but treatment of the animals with the TPA/ATRA combination had a greater inhibitory effect on tumor growth than TPA alone. Treatment with the TPA/ATRA combination resulted in a substantially decreased ratio of the percentage of mitotic cells to the percentage of caspase-3-positive cells in the tumors compared with tumors from the vehicle-treated control animals. The inhibitory effects of TPA on tumor growth occurred at clinically achievable blood levels.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Body Weight; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Neoplasm Transplantation; Paclitaxel; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Prostatic Neoplasms; Protein Kinase C; Retinoblastoma Protein; Sulindac; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The MAP kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is critical for cell growth and survival. In the current study, we examined the effect of inhibiting the MEK-ERK pathway in pancreatic tumor cells with the MEK-specific inhibitor U0126. In addition, we investigated whether the MEK-ERK pathway influenced the response of pancreatic cancer cells to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).. Cell growth was monitored by a colorimetric proliferation assay and cell counts. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was measured using a DNA fragmentation ELISA. Protein expression was detected by Western blot.. Treatment with U0126 dose dependently inhibited the growth of 3 human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2). U0126 treatment resulted in cell-cycle alterations but did not induce apoptosis. Growth inhibitory concentrations of NSAIDs unexpectedly increased ERK phosphorylation in BxPC-3 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. We therefore evaluated the effect of treating pancreatic tumor cells with the combination of the NSAID sulindac and U0126. Treatment with U0126 complemented sulindac-induced growth inhibition in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. The expression of several cell cycle (p21, p27, cyclin D1) and apoptotic (survivin, Bcl-xL) regulatory proteins was altered after U0126 and/or sulindac treatment. Our findings suggest that inhibition of the MEK-ERK signaling pathway may sensitize pancreatic tumor cells to NSAID therapy.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Butadienes; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Nitriles; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Sulindac

Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in human pancreatic adenocarcinomas, as well as the growth-inhibitory effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in vitro, suggests that NSAIDs may be an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine is currently the most effective chemotherapeutic drug available for patients with pancreatic cancer, but is only minimally effective against this aggressive disease. Clearly, other treatment options must be identified. To design successful therapeutic strategies involving compounds either alone or in combination with others, it is necessary to understand their mechanism of action. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of three NSAIDs (sulindac, indomethacin, and NS-398) or gemcitabine in two human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, BxPC-3 (COX-2-positive) and PaCa-2 (COX-2-negative), previously shown to be growth-inhibited by these NSAIDs. Effects on cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry or Western blotting. Treatment with NSAIDs or gemcitabine altered the cell cycle phase distribution as well as the expression of multiple cell cycle regulatory proteins in both cell lines, but did not induce substantial levels of apoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the combination of the NSAID sulindac or NS-398 with gemcitabine inhibited cell growth to a greater degree than either compound alone. These results indicate that the antiproliferative effects of NSAIDs and gemcitabine in pancreatic tumor cells are primarily due to inhibition of cell cycle progression rather than direct induction of apoptotic cell death, regardless of COX-2 expression. In addition, NSAIDs in combination with gemcitabine may hold promise in the clinic for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Division; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Deoxycytidine; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gemcitabine; Humans; Isoenzymes; Male; Membrane Proteins; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Sulindac; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is up-regulated in several types of human cancers and has also been directly linked to carcinogenesis. To investigate the role of COX-2 in pancreatic cancer, we evaluated COX-2 protein expression in primary human pancreatic adenocarcinomas (n = 23) and matched normal adjacent tissue (n = 11) by immunoblot analysis. COX-2 expression was found to be significantly elevated in the pancreatic tumor specimens compared with normal pancreatic tissue. To examine whether the elevated levels of COX-2 protein observed in pancreatic tumors correlated with the presence of oncogenic K-ras, we determined the K-ras mutation status in a subset of the tumors and corresponding normal tissues. The presence of oncogenic K-ras did not correlate with the level of COX-2 protein expressed in the pancreatic adenocarcinomas analyzed. These observations were also confirmed in a panel of human pancreatic tumor cell lines. Furthermore, in the pancreatic tumor cell line expressing the highest level of COX-2 (BxPC-3), COX-2 expression was demonstrated to be independent of Erk1/2 activation. The lack of correlation between COX-2 and oncogenic K-ras expression suggests that Ras activation may not be sufficient to induce COX-2 expression in pancreatic tumor cells and that the aberrant activation of signaling pathways other than Ras may be required for up-regulating COX-2 expression. We also report that the COX inhibitors sulindac, indomethacin and NS-398 inhibit cell growth in both COX-2-positive (BxPC-3) and COX-2-negative (PaCa-2) pancreatic tumor cell lines. However, suppression of cell growth by indomethacin and NS-398 was significantly greater in the BxPC-3 cell line compared with the PaCa-2 cell line (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, the three COX inhibitors reduce prostaglandin E(2) levels in the BxPC-3 cell line. Taken together, our data suggest that COX-2 may play an important role in pancreatic tumorigenesis and therefore be a promising chemotherapeutic target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Cell Line, Transformed; Codon; Cricetinae; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprostone; Enzyme Induction; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, ras; Humans; Indomethacin; Isoenzymes; Membrane Proteins; Mesocricetus; Neoplasm Proteins; Nitrobenzenes; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Point Mutation; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Signal Transduction; Sulfonamides; Sulindac

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein expression were found to be frequently elevated in human pancreatic adenocarcinomas and cell lines derived from such tumors. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated cytoplasmic COX-2 expression in 14 of 21 (67%) pancreatic carcinomas. The level of COX-2 mRNA was found to be elevated in carcinomas, relative to histologically normal pancreas from a healthy individual, as assessed by reverse transcription-PCR. COX-2 protein expression was detected by the Western blot assay in three of five pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (BxPC-3, Capan-1, and MDAPanc-3), whereas COX-1 protein was detected in two of the five cell lines (BxPC-3 and Capan-1). Increased levels of COX-2 mRNA were found in four of five cell lines, and only in PANC-1 cells was the low level of transcript comparable to that in the normal pancreas. The level of COX-2 mRNA was positively correlated with the differentiation status of the tumor of origin for each cell line, COX-2 protein expression was up-regulated by epidermal growth factor when the cells were grown in absence of serum. Finally, two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulindac sulfide and NS398, produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in all pancreatic cell lines tested. No correlation was found between the level of COX-2 or COX-1 expression and the extent of growth inhibition. Treatment of BxPC-3 cells with sulindac sulfide and NS398 resulted in an induction of COX-2 expression. Our findings indicate that COX-2 up-regulation is a frequent event in pancreatic cancers and suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful in the chemoprevention and therapy of pancreatic carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cell Division; Cyclooxygenase 1; Cyclooxygenase 2; Epidermal Growth Factor; Humans; Isoenzymes; Membrane Proteins; Nitrobenzenes; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; RNA, Messenger; Sulfonamides; Sulindac; Tumor Cells, Cultured