Efficacy Screening of Gloriosa Superba Extracts in a Murine Pancreatic Cancer Model Using (18)F-FDG PET/CT for Monitoring Treatment Response.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

In vivo efficacy of two herbal extracts of Gloriosa superba L. (Colchicaceae) was investigated in a murine pancreatic tumor model by tumor volume measurements and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging using 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-d-glucose ((18)F-FDG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A crude extract of G. superba (GS) seeds rich in colchicine and a colchicine-poor extract (GS2B) containing mostly colchicoside as a putative prodrug were prepared. PANC02-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with either placebo, gemcitabine, or one of the extracts (three different doses) for 10 days. Tumor volume measurements were performed daily during treatment and additionally (18)F-FDG Positron emission tomography/computed tomography was acquired at baseline and after 7 days of treatment. Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining was performed on the resected tumors.

RESULTS:

After 7 days of treatment, a dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition of both extracts was observed with the highest in vivo response at the highest dose of GS and GS2B and gemcitabine. A positive significant correlation was found between Ki-67 scores and relative tumor volumes (RTV), and a negative significant correlation between caspase-3 staining scores and RTV. A decrease in (18)F-FDG uptake was clearly observed in all treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The therapeutic efficacy of the two different herbal extracts was demonstrated in an in vivo pancreatic tumor model. (18)F-FDG PET was able to detect an early response as overall lower (18)F-FDG uptake was measured in the treated groups.

• Authors: Rica Capistrano, Christel Vangestel, An Wouters, Yanina Dockx, Patrick Pauwels, Sigrid Stroobants, Sandra Apers, Filip Lardon, Luc Pieters, Steven Staelens
• Journal: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals (Cancer Biother Radiopharm) Vol. 31 Issue 3 Pg. 99-109 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1557-8852 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27093343 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Plant Extracts
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Deoxycytidine
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• colchicoside
• Colchicine
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Animals
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (pharmacology)
• Colchicine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Deoxycytidine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Drug Synergism
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (metabolism)
• High-Throughput Screening Assays
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Liliaceae (chemistry)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (methods)
• Radiopharmaceuticals (metabolism)
• Seeds (chemistry)
• Toxicity Tests, Acute
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• Gemcitabine