Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-7-31
pubmed:abstractText
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disease characterized by proliferation of spindle-shaped cells predominantly of endothelial cell origin, neoangiogenesis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and edema. At least in early stage, KS behaves as a reactive lesion sustained by the action of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, has a polyclonal nature, and can regress. However, in time it can become monoclonal, especially in the nodular stage, evolving into a true sarcoma, likely in association with the increased expression of antiapoptotic oncogenes. We have recently demonstrated by immunohistochemical analysis that Bcl-2, a proto-oncogene known to prolong cellular viability and to antagonize apoptosis, is highly expressed in spindle cells and vessels of both AIDS-KS and classical KS lesions and that its expression increases with lesion stage. Paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing drug known to inhibit Bcl-2 antiapoptotic activity and to be highly effective in the treatment of certain neoplasms, has recently been found to be active also in patients with advanced HIV-associated KS. In this report we investigated the mechanism(s) of paclitaxel activity in KS. By using a model of experimental KS induced by the inoculation of KS-derived spindle cells in nude mice and primary cultures of KS spindle cells, we found that paclitaxel promotes regression of KS lesions in vivo and that it blocks the growth, migration, and invasion of KS cells in vitro. Furthermore, paclitaxel treatment promoted apoptosis and down-regulated Bcl-2 protein expression in KS cells in vitro and in KS-like lesions in mice. Our results suggest that paclitaxel interferes with KS by down-regulating Bcl-2 antiapoptotic effect.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0022-1767
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
165
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
509-17
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Mechanism of paclitaxel activity in Kaposi's sarcoma.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't