The immunomodulatory impact of interferon-alpha in combination with chemoradiation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (CapRI) [Elektronische Ressource] / submitted by Emilia-Maria Patrut

From the Surgical ClinicRuprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg(Academic Director: Prof. Dr. med. Markus W. Büchler)IMMUNOMODULATORY IMPACT OF INTERFERON-ALPHA INCOMBINATION WITH CHEMORADIATION OF PANCREATICADENOCARCINOMA (CapRI)Inaugural ThesisFor the title of Doctor of medicineof theMedical FacultyRuprecht-Karls-University of Heidelbergsubmitted byEmilia-Maria PatrutfromCluj-Napoca2005Dean: Prof. Dr. med. Claus R. BartramReferee: Prof. Dr. med. Jan SchmidtCONTENTSPageABBREVIATION LIST 51. INTRODUCTION 71.1 Pancreatic cancer – epidemiology and prognosis 71.2 Adjuvant treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma 81.3 9Role of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in the combined modality treatment ofpancreatic adenocarcinoma1.4 Antitumoral immune mechanisms 101.5 Mechanisms of apoptosis induction 121.6 Pathways of nuclear transcription factor NF-κB activation and its role in 15carcinogenesis1.7 Aims of the study 162. MATERIALS AND METHODS 172.1 Materials 172.1.1 Chemicals 172.1.2 Antibodies 182.1.3 Nucleotides 182.1.4 Pancreatic carcinoma cell lines 182.1.5 Blood preparations 182.1.6 Solutions and buffers 192.1.7 Culture medium 192.1.8 Other materials 192.2 Methods 202.2.1 Cell culture 202.2.2 Treatment of the pancreatic carcinoma cell lines 202.2.3 Preparation of lymphocytes 202.2.4 Flow cytometric analysis 212.2.5 MTT assay for cell proliferation 222.2.6 Determination of apoptosis, cell death and cell count 222.2.