Anti-cancer drugs
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Comparative Study
Imatinib mesylate (STI571; Glivec)--a new approach in the treatment of biliary tract cancer?
Non-resectable biliary tract cancer is associated with poor prognosis due to widespread resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy. It is therefore essential to explore new therapeutic approaches like the inhibition of tyrosine kinases. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors (PDGFRs) and the effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib +/- 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on proliferation and apoptosis in biliary tract cancer cell lines. ⋯ The combination with 5-FU increased the effect of imatinib mesylate in all cell lines. Treatment of cells with imatinib +/- 5-FU was associated with a significant induction of apoptosis, but no inhibition of proliferation. We conclude that imatinib alone exerts marked effects on c-kit+ biliary tract cancer cell lines only at intermediate and high concentrations, but there is a potential role of low-dose imatinib in combination with 5-FU for the treatment of biliary tract cancers.