Systematic Trial for Evaluating Docetaxel in a Human Prostate Cancer Cell DU145 Xenograft Model

Abstract

The inhibitory activities of docetaxel at a wide range of doses (0.1-10 mg/kg; subcutaneously (s.c.), once/week) in nude mice bearing a human prostate cancer cell (DU145), xenograft model with implantation of DU145 cells or a DU145 solid tumor were examined. This systematic trial demonstrated that (i) docetaxel was more effective in the xenograft model formed by implantation of DU145 cells than in the solid DU145 tumor; (ii) administration of 2.5 mg/kg docetaxel was the critical dose because inhibitory activities were not observed at 2.5 mg/kg, while they were noted at 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg in both implantation approaches; (iii) edema-like effects (plump body shape and legs) were observed in both groups at 2.5 mg/kg and the tumor sizes, often increased by blood plasma and other fluids, as well as body weights were higher than at other doses; and (iv) suppression of body weight gain was observed at 10 mg/kg docetaxel.

Keywords: DU145; Docetaxel; anti-cancer drug; dose-dependency; nude mice; side-effects; xenograft model.