Predicting the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil

  • Authors:
    • Nobuaki Kurata
    • Hayato Fujita
    • Kenoki Ohuchida
    • Kazuhiro Mizumoto
    • Prawej Mahawithitwong
    • Hiroshi Sakai
    • Manabu Onimaru
    • Tatsuya Manabe
    • Takao Ohtsuka
    • Masao Tanaka
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 26, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1058
  • Pages: 473-482
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Abstract

Gemcitabine (GEM) is the standard treatment for advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, there is a substantial subset of patients in whom the efficacy of GEM, when used as a single agent, is inadequate. Recently, the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) prodrugs capecitabine and S-1 have been used as an alternative, either alone or in combination with GEM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression pattern of genes that render pancreatic cancer cells sensitive to GEM and 5-FU, and to identify markers for indi­vidualized chemotherapy, even in patients who have developed resistance. We investigated the correlation between the expression of genes associated with the metabolism of GEM and 5-FU, and sensitivity to these drugs in 15 human pancreatic cancer cell lines. We also established GEM- and 5-FU-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines to investigate changes in the expression levels of these genes and the effects of one drug on cells resistant to the other. We found no correlation between pancreatic cancer cell sensitivity to either GEM- or 5-FU. GEM-resistant cells did not become resistant to 5-FU and vice versa. High expression of RRM1 (P=0.048) and TS x DPD (P=0.035) correlated significantly with sensitivity to GEM and 5-FU, respectively. 5-FU-resistant cells expressed significantly higher levels of TP than parental cells (P<0.05). In conclusion, pancreatic cancer cells showed no cross-resistance to GEM and 5-FU. Quantitative analyses of RRM1, TP, DPD and TS mRNA levels in pancreatic cancer cells may be useful for predicting their sensitivity to GEM and 5-FU.

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August 2011
Volume 39 Issue 2

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Kurata N, Fujita H, Ohuchida K, Mizumoto K, Mahawithitwong P, Sakai H, Onimaru M, Manabe T, Ohtsuka T, Tanaka M, Tanaka M, et al: Predicting the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. Int J Oncol 39: 473-482, 2011
APA
Kurata, N., Fujita, H., Ohuchida, K., Mizumoto, K., Mahawithitwong, P., Sakai, H. ... Tanaka, M. (2011). Predicting the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. International Journal of Oncology, 39, 473-482. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1058
MLA
Kurata, N., Fujita, H., Ohuchida, K., Mizumoto, K., Mahawithitwong, P., Sakai, H., Onimaru, M., Manabe, T., Ohtsuka, T., Tanaka, M."Predicting the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil". International Journal of Oncology 39.2 (2011): 473-482.
Chicago
Kurata, N., Fujita, H., Ohuchida, K., Mizumoto, K., Mahawithitwong, P., Sakai, H., Onimaru, M., Manabe, T., Ohtsuka, T., Tanaka, M."Predicting the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with the metabolism of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil". International Journal of Oncology 39, no. 2 (2011): 473-482. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1058