Purpose: The tumor suppressor gene p16INK4A is inactivated frequently in a large number of human cancers, and many investigators have attempted to restore the function of p16 using the p16 wild-type gene and viral vectors. In this study, we treated the tumor-bearing animals with the p16-derived synthetic peptide coupled with the Antennapedia carrier sequence, which we designated as Trojan p16 peptide.

Experimental Design: Injections (i.p.) of the Trojan p16 peptide (100 μg/mouse/day) were given for 3 weeks in the AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 s.c. tumor models. Tumor growth, histopathology, and TUNEL staining of the tumor and toxicity of the animals were evaluated. To examine its influence on the survival of tumor-bearing mice, Trojan p16 was administered in the AsPC-1 peritoneal dissemination model.

Results: In the AsPC-1 s.c. tumor model, a significant growth inhibition was obtained by the Trojan p16 treatment when compared with the three control treatments, i.e., vehicle, unconjugated form of p16, or Trojan peptide alone. Tumor growth inhibition was almost complete in the BxPC-3 tumor, a relatively slow growing tumor. Neither hematological cytotoxicity or body weight loss were observed. Histopathology of the BxPC-3 s.c. tumor in the Trojan p16 treatment group revealed marked vacuole formation and apoptotic death of cancer cells. In the AsPC-1 peritoneal dissemination model, the survival curve of mice treated with Trojan p16 was significantly longer than that of control.

Conclusions: These results provide evidence that the Trojan p16 peptide system, a gene-oriented peptide coupled with a peptide vector, functions for experimental pancreatic cancer therapy.