The functional significance of the cholecystokinin-C (CCK-C) receptor in human pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the CCK-C receptor, a splice variant of the CCK-B receptor, in human pancreatic cancer cells was associated with accelerated cancer cell growth.

Methods: In vitro, BxPC-3 cells were transfected with the antisense cDNA for the CCK-C receptor and growth of transfected cells was compared with that of wild-type (WT) and empty vector (EV)-transfected cells; expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. In vivo, athymic nude mice bearing human BxPC-3 pancreatic cancers were treated for 28 days with either an antisense oligonucleotide specific to the CCK-C receptor, the same nucleotide sequence arranged in a scrambled fashion (nucleotide control), or vehicle (control).

Treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with opioid growth factor: phase I.

Opioid growth factor (OGF) is an endogenous pentapeptide that inhibits growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in culture, as well as xenografts in nude mice. To establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and determine safety and toxicity of OGF, a phase I trial was performed in patients with advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. Patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma were treated with escalating doses of OGF for 30 min i.