Figure 2.

Cytotoxic effects of (nab-)paclitaxel on resistant PANC1R cells in vitro and in vivo.

(a) Resistant cells were significantly more sensitive to paclitaxel treatment in vitro. Columns and bars, mean and SEM values obtained from three independent experiments. (b) Treatment with nab-paclitaxel (n = 9, three doses of 60 mg/kg) versus vehicle (n = 7, NaCl) resulted in improved survival in vivo. The two mice treated with nab-paclitaxel were excluded from the analysis in the treatment arm due to side effects from the treatment forcing a humane endpoint before the end of treatment. (c) Tumour growth was evaluated by ultrasound (example on the right panel), showing continuous growth of the tumour in vehicle-treated mice, whereas mice treated with nab-paclitaxel had obvious tumour regression. Dashed black line indicates the 100 mm³ volume of the tumour upon treatment was started. A total of five mice had no measurable residual tumour after treatment and no outgrowth during follow up.

PANC1R, gemcitabine-resistant PANC1 cell line; SEM, standard error of the mean