Open Access

Role of endogenous cholecystokinin on growth of human pancreatic cancer

  • Authors:
    • Gail L. Matters
    • Christopher McGovern
    • John F. Harms
    • Kevin Markovic
    • Krystal Anson
    • Calpurnia Jayakumar
    • Melissa Martenis
    • Christina Awad
    • Jill P. Smith
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 24, 2010     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.886
  • Pages: 593-601
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Abstract

Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin stimulate growth of pancreatic cancer. Although down-regulation of gastrin inhibits growth of pancreatic cancer, the contribution of endogenous CCK to tumor growth is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of endogenous CCK on autocrine growth of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer cell lines were analyzed for CCK mRNA and peptide expression by real-time RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay, respectively. The effect of endogenous CCK on growth was evaluated by treating cancer cells with CCK neutralizing antibodies and by down-regulating CCK mRNA by RNAi. Wild-type pancreatic cancer cells expressed significantly lower CCK mRNA and peptide levels than gastrin. Neither treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with CCK antibodies nor the down-regulation of CCK mRNA and peptide by shRNAs altered growth in vitro or in vivo. Conversely, when gastrin mRNA expression was down-regulated, the same cells failed to produce tumors in spite of having sustained levels of endogenous CCK. Pancreatic cancer cells produce CCK and gastrin; however, the autocrine production of gastrin is more important for stimulating tumor growth.

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March 2011
Volume 38 Issue 3

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Matters GL, McGovern C, Harms JF, Markovic K, Anson K, Jayakumar C, Martenis M, Awad C and Smith JP: Role of endogenous cholecystokinin on growth of human pancreatic cancer. Int J Oncol 38: 593-601, 2011.
APA
Matters, G.L., McGovern, C., Harms, J.F., Markovic, K., Anson, K., Jayakumar, C. ... Smith, J.P. (2011). Role of endogenous cholecystokinin on growth of human pancreatic cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 38, 593-601. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.886
MLA
Matters, G. L., McGovern, C., Harms, J. F., Markovic, K., Anson, K., Jayakumar, C., Martenis, M., Awad, C., Smith, J. P."Role of endogenous cholecystokinin on growth of human pancreatic cancer". International Journal of Oncology 38.3 (2011): 593-601.
Chicago
Matters, G. L., McGovern, C., Harms, J. F., Markovic, K., Anson, K., Jayakumar, C., Martenis, M., Awad, C., Smith, J. P."Role of endogenous cholecystokinin on growth of human pancreatic cancer". International Journal of Oncology 38, no. 3 (2011): 593-601. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.886