Pancreatic Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pancreatic Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Continuous administration of the three thrombospondin-1 type 1 repeats recombinant protein improves the potency of therapy in an orthotopic human pancreatic cancer model.

Zhang X, Connolly C, Duquette M, Lawler J, Parangi S

Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Stoneman 934, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Thrombospondin-1 is one of most important natural angiogenic inhibitors. The three thrombospondin-1 type 1 repeats (3TSR), an anti-angiogenic domain of thrombospondin-1, is a promising novel agent for anti-angiogenic treatment. In the present study, we showed 3TSR was biologically stable at least for 7 days in mini-osmotic pumps in vivo, and continuous administration of 3TSR decreased the dosage and improved the potency of therapy in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model. By using different dosage and delivery routes, we proved that the anti-tumor efficacy of 3TSR was correlated with its anti-angiogenic efficacy. 3TSR treatment also decreased tumor vessel patency and blood flow. The results indicate the advantage of continuous administration of angiogenic inhibitors and provide rationale for using such delivery methods for cancer treatment.

Published 25 December 2006 in Cancer Lett, 247(1): 143-9.
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