Figure 7.
Evaluation of the Bxl-xL/Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 in an ex vivo tissue culture approach. Human CRC specimens were sliced and kept in culture for 94 h. After 24 h, the medium was supplemented with 5 μM ABT-737 or DMSO as control. (a) IHC against cleaved PARP (left-hand side) and Ki67 (right-hand side) on tissue culture sections from three patients. Scale bar indicates magnification for all panels. (b and c) Table and graphs summarizing changes of cleaved PARP- and Ki67-positive cells, which were determined by counting of control and ABT-737-treated specimens. Quantification revealed a significant increase (P=0.028) in dead cells (cleaved PARP) but an unaltered proliferative capacity (Ki67) of ABT-737-treated tumor tissue. (d) ATP assay, showing a decreased ATP content in ABT-737-treated tissue specimens (P=0.024; n=5 scaffolds per group). Values are expressed as means+S.D. *P<0.05