THE INFLUENCE OF GASTRIN AND OR CHOLECYSTOKININ ANTAGONISTS ON THE PROLIFERATION OF 3 HUMAN ASTROCYTIC TUMOR-CELL LINES/

We have investigated the potential role of gastrin in the regulation o f cell growth in human astrocytic tumors. To this end we have used syn thetic analogs of gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) which behave as ga strin and/or CCK antagonists, e.g. compounds JMV-97, JMV-209 and JMV-1 79. Their effects on astrocytic tumor cell proliferation was investiga ted by the use of the colorimetric MTT assay. The in vitro biological models used in the present study included the SW1088, U87 and U373 ast rocytic tumor cell lines. The results demonstrated marked influence of gastrin and CCK antagonists in the regulation of astrocytic tumor gro wth. This suggests that gastrin and/or CCK antagonists might be tested in experimental glioblastoma.