Somatostatin may enhance cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin on gallbladder cancer cells

Objective: To explore the change of chemosensitivity of gallbladder cancer cells pre-treated with somatostatin. Methods: Twenty-four hours after somatostatin treatment, gradient concentrated Doxorubicin was added and growth curve of gallbladder cancer cells was investigated to measure IC 50 , i.e., concentration of Doxorubicin at 50% cell viability. Results: Somatostatin ccould induce gallbladder cancer cell growth arrest in S phase. Inhibition of growth of cancer cell line was detected by Doxorubicin concentration- dependently ( P <0.05). IC 50 value was significantly lower by combined-treating with somatostatin and Doxorubicin compared with by Doxorubicin alone ( P <0.05). Conclusion: Somatostatin could increase the cytotoxic effect of Doxorubicin on gallbladder cancer cell by modulating its cell cycle.