Effects of heavy water (D2O) on human pancreatic tumor cells.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer constitutes an entity which is difficult to treat and, therefore, mostly fatal. Since heavy water (deuterium oxide, D2O) was shown to be active in various cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, we now investigated its effects in human pancreatic tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cytotoxic effects of D2O were examined in three pancreatic cancer cell lines (AsPC-1, BxPC-3 and PANC-1). Induction of apoptosis was determined by Hoechst/propidium iodide double staining and cell cycle distribution was investigated by FACS analysis. RESULTS Employing a clonogenic assay, D2O yielded IC50 values of 15%, 18% and 27% in AsPC-1, PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells, respectively, and led to the induction of apoptosis when compared to untreated controls. Moreover, D2O caused a cell cycle arrest in the G2-M-phase (BxPC-3, PANC-1) or in the S-phase (AsPC-1). CONCLUSION It is hoped that D2O might offer an additional option for the treatment of pancreatic carcinomas.