Fig. 5. VEDT, alone and in combination with gemcitabine (Gem), induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits survival pathway in tumors of KPC mice.
A, Western blot of p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 in tumors of drug-treated KPC mice. Gemcitabine, VEDT, and gemcitabine + VEDT treatment induced cell cycle inhibitor proteins p21Cip1and p27kip-1 in pancreatic tumor tissues (n = 5). B, Western blots of pAKT, pMEK, and pERK in tumors of KPC mice (n = 5). A significant inhibition of pAKT and pMEK (aP<0.001) was noted in VEDT- and gemcitabine + VEDT-treated mice compared to vehicle treatment. Gemcitabine (bP < 0.05), VEDT (aP < 0.001), and gemcitabine + VEDT (aP < 0.001) significantly inhibited pERK expression in tumor tissues of KPC mice (right). All statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA with Duncan test.