Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasias (pNEN) are the most common cause of death in adult patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). So far, only few chemopreventive strategies (e.g., with somatostatin analogues) have been evaluated for MEN1 associated pNENs. In this experimental study on 75 Men1(+/T) knockout mice, the effect of aspirin (n = 25) and an inhibitor of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (enalapril, n = 25) compared to controls (n = 25) were evaluated as single chemopreventive strategies for pNENs after 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months. After each study period, mice were sacrificed and the resected pancreata were evaluated by histopathological analysis, immunostaining, and real-time PCR. PNEN size and number was measured. Aspirin and enalapril lead to a pNEN size reduction of 80% (167,518 vs. 838,876 µm2, p < 0.001) and 79% (174,758 vs. 838,876 µm2, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Furthermore, aspirin and enalapril treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the number of pNENs by 33%, (p = 0.04) and 41% (p = 0.002) respectively. The apoptosis marker caspase 3 revealed a higher positive expression in pNEN of treated Men1(+/T) mice. Immunostaining of VEGF in pNEN detected a downregulation of its expression in treated Men1(+/T) mice compared to the control group. REL A transcript was significantly downregulated in 18-months treated enalapril Men1(+/T) mice, but not in aspirin-treated Men1(+/T) mice. There was no significant difference in the Ki-67 index. Using a transgenic mouse model that imitates human MEN1, this study provides first evidence that aspirin and enalapril are effective chemopreventive agents that aid in the progression of pNENs.

Keywords:
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Aspirin, Enalapril, Chemoprevention
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