Effects of triple therapy with octreotide, galanin and serotonin on a human colon cancer cell line.

Human colon cancer cells were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. After 12 days, the animals were divided into two groups. The first group received 40 microg/kg body weight of octreotide, galanin and serotonin via an intraperitoneally implanted pump. The second group received sterile saline only. Treatment lasted for 14 days. The volume and weight of the tumours in treated mice tended to decrease, though not with statistical significance. The proliferation index and the number of tumour blood vessels was significantly reduced in the mice given triple therapy. The apoptotic index, as detected by TUNEL method and monoclonal anti-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, was significantly higher in the treated mice. Though the results of this investigation are promising, it is uncertain as to what use the present findings may imply for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.