Aresenite Platinum Chemo Enhancement
Monday January 19, 2009
Although this is early laboratory research, it caught my interest. We know that one of the most useful drugs for ovarian cancer treatment has been cisplatin. The way the tumor responds to this drug will often define the prognosis.
Initially, most patients do respond to this chemotherapy for their ovarian cancer. Eventually the majority of the ovarian cancers become resistant to the cisplatin. This lab study could give some hope. If the power of cisplatin can be improved by this method, it would have a major impact in the fight against ovarian cancer.
The drug I'm alluding to is called Arsenite (arsenic trioxide). It begins by working to attack the ovarian cancer cells but also works by using multiple biological processes to enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin to inhibit DNA repair. There have been some in-vitro studies (in the lab) that show Arsenite can enhance the activity of cisplatin in other cell types as well.
If some of you recognized the word "arsenic" in this compound, yes it is the same thing as the drug we have all just considered a poison in the past. However, Arsenite has been used to treat some types of leukemias for some time now, which shows it can be used safely. Granted this seems odd, but not the first time a "poison" has been used towards a good cause. Watch for upcoming clinical research in this area.
Initially, most patients do respond to this chemotherapy for their ovarian cancer. Eventually the majority of the ovarian cancers become resistant to the cisplatin. This lab study could give some hope. If the power of cisplatin can be improved by this method, it would have a major impact in the fight against ovarian cancer.
The drug I'm alluding to is called Arsenite (arsenic trioxide). It begins by working to attack the ovarian cancer cells but also works by using multiple biological processes to enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin to inhibit DNA repair. There have been some in-vitro studies (in the lab) that show Arsenite can enhance the activity of cisplatin in other cell types as well.
If some of you recognized the word "arsenic" in this compound, yes it is the same thing as the drug we have all just considered a poison in the past. However, Arsenite has been used to treat some types of leukemias for some time now, which shows it can be used safely. Granted this seems odd, but not the first time a "poison" has been used towards a good cause. Watch for upcoming clinical research in this area.