Fig. 6

Diabetes reduced the effect of chemotherapy that correlated with increased DRAM and reduced PUMA gene expression, in vivo. (a) Blood glucose concentration was evaluated in normoglycemic (Normo) and streptozotocin (SZT)-treated mice (diabetic). Data are presented as means ± S.D. *P < 0.005. (b) After mice reached a glucose concentration exceeding 300 mg/dl (considered diabetic) upon SZT treatment, solid tumors were obtained by injecting i.m. RKO cells on the flank of each mouse. ADR treatment was performed when the tumors became palpable. Ten days after ADR treatment, the size of tumors showed statistical significant growth delay in normoglycemic versus SZT mice. The data are presented as fold reduction ± S.D. *P < 0.005. (c) Tumors measured in (b) were then explanted from normoglycemic (Normo) and streptozotocin (SZT)-treated mice and total mRNA was analysed by RT-PCR of PUMA and DRAM gene expression. 28S was used as a control for efficiency of RNA extraction and transcription. (c) Densitometric analysis of gene expression in (b) was plotted as expression ratio to 28S. *P < 0.001