Is gemcitabine-induced programmed cell death ( apoptosis ) of human pancreatic carcinoma determined by Bcl-2 content?
Cellular Bcl-2 content was directly correlated with the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine in pancreatic carcinoma. Therefore, routine immunohistochemical analyses may be useful in predicting gemcitabine efficacy, and patients who would likely not benefit could be spared gemcitabine administration. Furthermore, the effectiveness of gemcitabine and other chemotherapeutic agents may be increased by gene therapy-mediated alteration of bcl-2 gene family members.
Findings suggest that silent brain infarcts in young patients with cryptogenic stroke is associated with MA. We found no evidence for a mediating effect of PFO on this association.