Loss of FKBP5 expression in pancreatic cancer cells results in increased tumor growth in mice.

<p>Mice bearing subcutaneous wtFKBP5 SU86 and shFKBP5 SU86 tumors entered the study when tumors reached ∼100 mm³ (day 0). All mice were randomized to control or treatment groups and were treated with vehicle or gemcitabine at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally twice per week. (A) Formation of subcutaneous (s.c.) tumors in wt and shFKBP5 SU86 injected nude mice. Results are represented by the tumor volume measured at each time point. **P<0.001 (5 mice/group) as compared between wtFKBP5 and shFKBP5 xenografts treated with saline. (B and C) Gemcitabine response in wt or shFKBP5 xenograft mice. Results are represented by the tumor volume measured at each time point corrected to day 0 when mice entered the study. (D) shFKBP5 xenografts are resistant to gemcitabine <i>in vivo</i>. Results are represented by tumor inhibition ratio, defined as the measurements of tumor volume at each time point normalized to day 0 for shFKPB5 mice, corrected for that of wt FKBP5 mice. **P<0.001; *P<0.05 (5 mice/group) as a comparison of tumor growth inhibition ratio between wtFKBP5 and shFKBP5 treated with 100 mg/kg of gemcitabine. (E and F) Measurements of body weight for wt and shFKBP5 xenografts. Body weight was recorded for each mouse every 3 days throughout the experiment. Statistical significance was assessed by two-way ANOVA.