Romidepsin and tamoxifen cooperatively induce senescence of pancreatic cancer cells through downregulation of FOXM1 expression and induction of reactive oxygen species/lipid peroxidation.

Background: Although improvement has been made in therapeutic strategies against pancreatic carcinoma, overall survival has not significantly enhanced over the past decade. Thus, the establishment of better therapeutic regimens remains a high priority.

Methods: Pancreatic cancer cell lines were incubated with romidepsin, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, and tamoxifen, and their effects on cell growth, signaling and gene expression were analyzed.