Figure 7.

Effects of DIM-C-pPhOH on growth and apoptosis in an orthotopic mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. (A) Effects on tumor weights and volume. L3.6pL human pancreatic cancer cells were orthotopically implanted into athymic nude mice, and each mouse was dosed by oral gavage with either corn oil (control) or DIM-C-pPhOH (30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks starting 7 days after implantation. Median tumor weights and volumes were calculated as described in the Materials and Methods (* significantly decreased effects; p<0.05). (B) TUNEL assay. The TUNEL assay was performed on tumor sections as described in the Materials and Methods, and the number of TUNEL positive cells was counted from randomly selected microscopic fields. DAPI stains both apoptotic and nonapoptotic cells blue and fluorescein-12-dUTP incorporation results in localized green fluorescence within the nucleus of apoptotic cells. Fluorescent images were collected at high (x400) magnification (* significantly increased TUNEL staining; p<0.05). (C) Protein expressions in tumor lysates. Tumor lysates from tumor samples were further analyzed by Western blot analysis as described in the Materials and Methods, and each lane represents a different tumor sample [* significantly increased caspase-3 and PARP cleavage; **significantly decreased bcl-2 and survivin protein levels (relative to β-actin loading control); p<0.05].