Figure 4
Doxycycline treatment enhances tumor targeting and therapeutic effect of CIK cells in mouse tumor models. (a) Athymic nu-/nu- mice were implanted with UCI-101 tumor cells (1 × 107 cells subcutaneously) and when tumors reached 50–100 mm3 treatments were begun. Some mice received doxycycline in their drinking water (100 μM) for a total of 17 days starting 3 days before CIK cell treatment. Human CIK cells (hCIK) were pre-labeled with cy5.5 before 1 × 107 cells were delivered via tail vein injection. The number of CIK cells in the tumor was determined by whole animal fluorescence imaging 72 h after initial injection. Significantly more CIK cell fluorescence was detected in the tumors of doxycycline treated mice (n=8 per group; *P=0.03). Sample images are shown. (b) Anti-tumor effects of CIK cells used as before with and without doxycycline combination. The tumor growth and response to therapy were followed in the same mice by caliper measurement. Doxycycline enhanced the anti-tumor effects of CIK cell therapy (*P<0.05 for days 14–24).
