Klin Padiatr 2004; 216 - 34
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-828579

Characterisation of apoptosis inductor and suppressor genes in thermochemotherapy treated Ewing tumor cells

C Krause 1, K Klüttermann 1, U Banning 1, D Körholz 1, C Mauz-Körholz 1
  • 1Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany

Hyperthermia enhances cytotoxic effects of Melphalan in Ewing tumor cells. In these cells cytotoxicity is mainly mediated by caspase-dependent pathways. Therefore, cDNA expression arrays were performed separately assessing hyperthermia- and Melphalan- induced, as well as the combined stimulation-induced effects. Roughly 200 apoptosis-related genes were analyzed 6hrs after stimulation by each of the 3 above described stimuli and after 6hrs culture in medium only. However, clusters of interest were only those genes, which were significantly up- or down-regulated by each of the 3 conditions compared to the medium control. Of this group of genes, 10 candidates were selected which have been reported to be inducers of apoptosis and were upregulated, like PARP, bax-alpha or CDC2 or signify suppressors of apoptosis and were downregulated, like DRAK2, CD137, CD30 and p21. Results of the confirmatory and functional assays will be presented.

* supported by Deutsche Krebshilfe

§ supported by Elternhilfe für krebskranke Kinder Leipzig e.V and McDonalds Kinderhilfe-Stiftung.