Apoptosis in normal tissues induced by anti-cancer drugs

T. Tamaki, Y. Naomoto, S. Kimura, R. Kawashima, Y. Shirakawa, K. Shigemitsu, T. Yamatsuji, M. Haisa, M. Gunduz, N. Tanaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To investigated the damage mediated by anti-cancer drugs in normal cells, we examined the effect of such drugs on apoptosis of normal cells of the small intestinal epithelium and the bone marrow by in situ DNA end-labelling and transmission electron microscopy. Mice received a single dose of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin, or repeated daily doses of 5-FU for 7 days. In mice treated with a single dose of 5-FU 50 mg/kg or cisplating 5 mg/kg, the number of apoptotic cells appearing in the small intestine 12 h after infection was relatively small, but increased steadily reaching a peak after 36 h and then decreasing to close to that in the control group by 48 h. In bone marrow cells, results were similar in mice treated with single doses of 5-FU 50 mg/kg but apoptosis increased much less in those treated with cisplatin 5 mg/kg. The proportion of apoptotic cells reached peak values earlier at higher concentrations of 5-FU or cisplatin both in small intestine and in bone marrow. In the mice treated repeatedly with 5-FU 50 mg/kg, the proportion of apoptotic small intestinal epithelial cells reached a succession of peaks at 48-h intervals. Mice treated repeatedly with 5-FU 50 mg/kg, the proportion of apoptotic small intestinal epithelial cells reached a succession of peaks at 48-h intervals. Mice treated repeatedly with 5-FU 50 mg/kg also showed a rapid increase in diarrhoea symptoms and a steady decrease in the height of villi. Our results suggest it may be possible to prevent the side-effects of anti-cancer drugs by inhibiting apoptosis in the gastro-intestinal tract.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6-16
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of International Medical Research
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Keywords

  • 5-Fluorouracil
  • Anti-cancer drugs
  • Apoptosis
  • Bone marrow
  • Cisplatin
  • Intestine
  • Mouse
  • Normal tissue

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry, medical

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