Objectives: To study the change of caspase-3 activity on the neoadjuvant chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)/leucovorin (CF) in large-intestinal carcinoma, and to explore its mechanism.
Methods: HCPT 100 mg/dt-5, 5-Fu 500 mg/dt-5 and CF 200 mg/dt-5 were administered intravenously to 20 pre-operation patients. Samples were obtained during the operation. The changes of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity in large-intestinal carcinoma were evaluated with the optical microscopy and the colorimeteric assay respectively and were compared with non-chemotherapy group and normal intestinal tissue group.
Results: 1. The obvious cell apoptotic change could be observed under the optical microscopy in the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group; 2. The level of caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group than in the non-chemotherapy and normal intestinal tissue group(P < 0.05); 3. The change of caspase-3 activity was closely correlated with the tumor differentiation and Dukes stage after the induction of pre-operative chemotherapy.
Conclusion: HCPT combined with 5-Fu/CF may induce the apoptosis of large-intestinal carcinoma cells and caspase-3 takes part in the apoptotic process. The change of caspase-3 activity was closely correlated with the degree of the tumor differentiation and Dukes stage.