P Günsberg

Publications (2)7.23 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: PubMed Central

  Article: Bcl-x(L) antisense oligonucleotides radiosensitise colon cancer cells.

  V Wacheck, E Selzer, P Günsberg, T Lucas, H Meyer, C Thallinger, B P Monia, B Jansen
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  ABSTRACT: Advanced colon cancer is a malignancy with poor response to various treatment modalities including ionising radiation (IR) and chemotherapy. Both IR and chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to act by inducing apoptosis, a type of cell death antagonised by the Bcl-x(L) gene product. Since approximately 60% of human colon cancers express Bcl-x(L), it was the aim of this study to explore the potential of Bcl-x(L) antisense oligonucleotides as a novel radiosensitisation strategy. Caco-2 colon cancer cells were treated with Bcl-x(L) antisense oligonucleotides in combination with IR or cisplatin, and Bcl-x(L) protein expression, apoptosis, cell viability and clonogenic survival were examined. Bcl-x(L) antisense oligonucleotide specifically reduced the Bcl-x(L) protein level by almost 50% in Caco-2 cells. The decreased threshold for the induction of apoptosis resulted in a 300% increase of apoptosis after IR or cisplatin treatment and led to a 60% reduction of cell proliferation beyond response rates achieved with IR. These data suggest that Bcl-x(L) is an important factor contributing to the treatment resistance of human colon cancer. Specific reduction of Bcl-x(L) protein levels by antisense oligonucleotides qualifies as a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer that may help overcome resistance and improve clinical outcome in this malignancy.
  British Journal of Cancer 11/2003; 89(7):1352-7. · 5.04 Impact Factor
• Article: Differential expression levels of Par-4 in melanoma.

  T Lucas, B Pratscher, S Krishnan, D Fink, P Günsberg, M Wolschek, V Wacheck, T Muster, I Romirer, K Wolff, H Pehamberger, H G Eichler, V M Rangnekar, B Jansen
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  ABSTRACT: The pro-apoptotic prostate apoptosis response-4 gene product Par-4 sensitizes prostate cells to the induction of programmed cell death. In this study we examined Par-4 expression in human melanoma cell lines and melanoma metastases. The heterogeneous expression detected prompted us to investigate the biological relevance of Par-4 in a human melanoma xenotransplantation model. Overexpression of Par-4 by transfection decreased tumour development in xenotransplanted A375-C6 melanoma cells in SCID mice and correlated to an increase in tumour cell apoptosis. These data suggest that high expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 could qualify as a prognostic marker in human melanoma.
  Melanoma Research 09/2001; 11(4):379-83. · 2.19 Impact Factor