Effect of combined treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 and allicin on pancreatic cancer

Mol Biol Rep. 2013 Dec;40(12):6579-85. doi: 10.1007/s11033-013-2766-1. Epub 2013 Oct 18.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and allicin on pancreatic cancer and explore the potential immunological mechanism. A total of 60 C57/BL6 nude mice pancreatic cancer xenograft models were randomized into four groups of 15 mice per group: control group, allicin treatment group, rIL-2 treatment group, combined treatment with allicin and rIL-2 group. Mice in each group were treated with saline, rIL-2, allicin, or combination of rIL-2 and allicin by weekly i.v injection for four weeks. After four weeks of treatment, eyeballs of the mice were extracted and blood was drawn, percentages of CD4+T, CD8+T and NK cell were analyzed by FACS, IFN-γ level was detected by ELISA. One mouse in each group was sacrificed to measure the weight and volume of the tumor and prepared to the paraffin section of tumor tissue. Apoptosis of the tumor cells was analyzed by TUNEL and FACS. Other mice continued to receive treatment, survival period were compared between each group. We observed a significant suppression of xenograft growth and a significant prolonged survival time in the combined treatment with allicin and rIL-2 group (P < 0.05). The most amount of apoptotic cells were observed in the combined therapy group (P < 0.05). The percentages of CD4+T, CD8+T and NK cell and serum IFN-γ level increased significantly in the combined treatment group compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Combined treatment with allicin and rIL-2 resulted in suppression of tumor growth and prolonged survival time possibly through activation of CD4+T, CD8+T and NK cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disulfides
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Sulfinic Acids / pharmacology
  • Sulfinic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sulfinic Acids
  • allicin
  • Interferon-gamma