PURPOSE: Clinical trials on pancreatic cancer demonstrated that interferons (IFN) improve the therapeutic index of combined radio- and chemotherapy. This is believed to be due to radiosensitisation of cells, which, however, needs experimental verification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we compared the survival response of ten pancreatic tumour cell lines following ionising radiation (IR), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and combined treatment. The effect of combination treatment on apoptosis induction was also determined. RESULTS: In most cell lines IFN treatment on its own exerted cytotoxicity, which was independent of the expression level of the IFN receptor on the cell surface. Three cell lines showed a radiosensitisation effect while two showed radioprotection. Although IFN-alpha is commonly used in the clinic, IFN-beta induced a stronger cytotoxic response than IFN-alpha in vitro. The likely mechanism of enhancement of radiosensitivity in the responsive cell lines was shown to be an increase of the radiation-induced apoptotic response by IFN pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Given that the in vitro data do not conform to the impressive clinical results observed after combined radio- and chemotherapy with IFN-alpha, it is reasonable to conclude that the sensitising effect of IFN is not mediated through modulating the intrinsic radiosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells.
PURPOSE: Clinical trials on pancreatic cancer demonstrated that interferons (IFN) improve the therapeutic index of combined radio- and chemotherapy. This is believed to be due to radiosensitisation of cells, which, however, needs experimental verification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we compared the survival response of ten pancreatic tumour cell lines following ionising radiation (IR), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and combined treatment. The effect of combination treatment on apoptosis induction was also determined. RESULTS: In most cell lines IFN treatment on its own exerted cytotoxicity, which was independent of the expression level of the IFN receptor on the cell surface. Three cell lines showed a radiosensitisation effect while two showed radioprotection. Although IFN-alpha is commonly used in the clinic, IFN-beta induced a stronger cytotoxic response than IFN-alpha in vitro. The likely mechanism of enhancement of radiosensitivity in the responsive cell lines was shown to be an increase of the radiation-induced apoptotic response by IFN pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Given that the in vitro data do not conform to the impressive clinical results observed after combined radio- and chemotherapy with IFN-alpha, it is reasonable to conclude that the sensitising effect of IFN is not mediated through modulating the intrinsic radiosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells.
Authors: Hong Xu; Jian Xian; Emmanuelle Vire; Steven McKinney; Vivien Wei; Jason Wong; Rebecca Tong; Tony Kouzarides; Carlos Caldas; Samuel Aparicio Journal: J Pathol Date: 2014-08-28 Impact factor: 7.996
Authors: Daniela Hanisch; Andrea Krumm; Tamara Diehl; Carla M Stork; Mario Dejung; Falk Butter; Ella Kim; Walburgis Brenner; Gerhard Fritz; Thomas G Hofmann; Wynand P Roos Journal: Cell Death Dis Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 8.469
Authors: Stephanie Booy; Casper H J van Eijck; Fadime Dogan; Peter M van Koetsveld; Leo J Hofland Journal: J Cell Mol Med Date: 2014-01-25 Impact factor: 5.310
Authors: Amber Blaauboer; Stephanie Booy; Peter M van Koetsveld; Bas Karels; Fadime Dogan; Suzanne van Zwienen; Casper H J van Eijck; Leo J Hofland Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2020-09-23 Impact factor: 4.430