Heterotransplantation of human
cancers in nude mice has provided an in vivo model for studying the
biologic characteristics of human
tumors, particularly their response to
chemotherapy. In an effort to identify
cytotoxic agents effective against
pancreatic carcinoma, this model was used to evaluate the efficacy of three new
anticancer agents--
menogarol, 4'-epirubicin, and
taxol--against two human transplanted pancreatic
tumors. Relative area (
tumor length X width) differed significantly between
menogarol-treated and control groups (p = 0.034). A marked response was also observed in the
tumors to 4'-epirubicin (p = 0.01).
Taxol was ineffective in controlling
tumor growth; by the fourth week, the size of treated
tumors was similar to that of the control group (p = 0.55). No toxicity was observed in either the
menogarol- or
taxol-treated animals. Animals bearing the P2
tumor, and treated with 4'
epirubicin displayed severe toxicity by day 18 with death by day 21 in most animals. For the second
tumor, Capan-1, relative area differed significantly between the
menogarol-treated and the control group (p = 0.003). In animals given 4'-epirubicin, a smaller difference was observed when comparing the relative areas (p = 0.09). Animals treated with
taxol again showed no difference in the
tumors when compared with controls (p = 1.0). The use of the nude mouse system has evolved so that
tumor-oriented trials are now feasible with the hope of clinical applicability. This study illustrates that at least two agents--
menogarol and 4'-epirubicin--may have some antitumor activity against
pancreatic carcinoma in this system.