20083 Background: Limitations in the treatment of recurrent disease in cervical carcinoma are for radiation therapy large tumor size and pelvic side wall involvement and for exenteration procedurde previous radiation therapy, bulky disease, and others. Alternative approaches including chemotherapy, chemo-radiation, radiation plus hyperthermia and others are accompanied by a failure rate of 50 to 80%. Recent research has shown that the antineoplastic effect of thalidomide (TD) is due to the inhibition of neo-angiogenesis, a decrease of TNF-a, blocking of nuclear factor κβ-kinase activity, stimulation of the IL-2 and downregulation of cell adhesion molecules. Here, we have studied the effect of TD on a cervical cancer cell line in a murine xenograft model. Methods: We injected 7 × 106 HELA cells s.c. into the dorsal skin of 6–8 week-old male nude mice (cd nu−/nu−; Charles River, Sulzfeld, Germany). The tumor diameter was measured with a caliber rule. The maximum and minimum diameters of the tumor were determined. Tumor volume (V) was calculated by the formula: V = a × b × b/2, where a represents the minimum and b the maximum tumor diameter. As soon as tumors reached a volume of 0.25 cm3 the mice were randomized into a treatment (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). The mice in the treatment group received 14 daily injections of 300 mg/kg (i.p.) thalidomide for 14 days. Animals were housed under specific pathogen-free conditions. The experiments have been approved by the local animal welfare committee. Results: Thalidomide caused a clear delay in tumor growth. Already 7 days after onset of thalidomide therapy the mean tumor volume was smaller in the treated (0.24 ± 0.03 cm3) compared to the control mice (0.73 ± 0.15 cm3; mean ± standard error; p < 0.01). After 14 days of thalidomide treatment the mean tumor volumes were 0.37 ± 0.05 and 1.05 ± 0.19 cm3 in the treated and in the control mice, respectively (p < 0.01). However, after the end of the 14 days treatment period a new onset of tumor growth was observed. In conclusion, thalidomide delayed tumor growth but did not cause tumor remission. Conclusions: TD is effective in inhibition of tumor growth of a cervical cancer cell line in a mouse xenograft model and might be an alternative drug in patients with recurrent cervical carcinoma without any options for established standard therapy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
G-CSF induces production of Bv8 in murine bone marrow neutrophils and promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis of U14 murine cervical cancer cell line
