Active hexose-correlated compound down-regulates HSP27 of pancreatic cancer cells, and helps the cytotoxic effect of gemcitabine

Shigeyuki Suenaga, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, Seiji Kaino, Shin Ichiro Maehara, Yoshihiko Maehara, Isao Sakaida, Kazuyuki Nakamura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Aim: Active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC), an extract of basidiomycete mushroom, is used as health food to enhance the therapeutic effects and reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Our previous proteomic analysis revealed that up-regulation of heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) was responsible for gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AHCC on the expression of HSP27 and the effect of combinatorial treatment of AHCC and gemcitabine on the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line KLM1-R. Materials and Methods: KLM1-R cells were treated with AHCC, and the expression of HSP27 as well as the cytotoxic effects of combinatorial treatment of AHCC and gemcitabine were investigated with western blotting and MTS assay, respectively. Results: AHCC downregulated HSP27 and exhibited a cytotoxic effect on KLM1-R cells. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the combinatorial treatment of AHCC and gemcitabine was synergistic. Conclusion: This study supports the potential therapeutic benefits of combinatorial treatment of AHCC and gemcitabine for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-146
Number of pages6
JournalAnticancer research
Volume34
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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