Human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.

  • Authors:
    • I S Zagon
    • J P Smith
    • P J McLaughlin
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 1999     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.14.3.577
  • Pages: 577-661
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Abstract

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a fatal malignancy that ranks as the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. The median survival after diagnosis is 3-6 months, with a 5-year survival rate of 3% or less. In spite of treatment efforts of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the survival rate remains unchanged. In this study, we discovered that an endogenous opioid peptide, [Met5]-enkephalin, inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancers in vitro; in view of this pentapeptide's action it has been termed opioid growth factor (OGF). OGF was found to be constitutively expressed, autocrine produced, and tonically capable of suppressing cell replication in an opioid receptor mediated manner. Growth inhibition was dose-related, reversible, not cytotoxic, and independent of serum. All 4 pancreatic cancer cell lines examined, representative of poor to well-differentiated neoplasias, exhibited growth regulation by OGF. Immunocytochemical studies detected both OGF and its related receptor, zeta, in the cytoplasm of log phase cells. Radioimmunoassays revealed that OGF was produced and secreted by the cells. These data suggest that a native opioid peptide, OGF, interacts with a novel opioid receptor, zeta, to arrest the growth of human pancreatic cancer.

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Mar 1999
Volume 14 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Zagon I, Smith J and McLaughlin P: Human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.. Int J Oncol 14: 577-661, 1999.
APA
Zagon, I., Smith, J., & McLaughlin, P. (1999). Human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.. International Journal of Oncology, 14, 577-661. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.14.3.577
MLA
Zagon, I., Smith, J., McLaughlin, P."Human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.". International Journal of Oncology 14.3 (1999): 577-661.
Chicago
Zagon, I., Smith, J., McLaughlin, P."Human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.". International Journal of Oncology 14, no. 3 (1999): 577-661. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.14.3.577