Intratumoral heterogeneity of the therapeutical response to gemcitabine and metformin.

ABSTRACT: Cancer heterogeneity and microenvironmental aspects within a tumor are considered key factors influencing resistance of carcinoma cells to distinct chemotherapeutical agents. We evaluated a high concentration of metformin in combination with gemcitabine on a syngeneic orthotopic mouse model using 6606PDA cells. We observed reduced tumor size and reduced cancer cell proliferation after three weeks of chemotherapy with either compound and noticed an additive effect between gemcitabine and metformin on tumor weight. Interestingly, distinct areas of the carcinoma responded differently to either compound. Metformin inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells close to the desmoplastic reaction, whereas gemcitabine inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells mainly 360-570 μm distant to the desmo

SUBMITTER: Zechner D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5302922 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature