Opioid antagonists inhibit the growth of metastatic murine neuroblastoma.
Naltrexone (NTX), an opiate antagonist, had an inhibitory effect on the growth of S20 Y neuroblastoma (NB) in A/Jax mice. Daily injections of 0.1 mg/kg NTX resulted in a 69% tumor take, 70% delay in time prior to tumor appearance, and a 60% increase in median survival time. Inoculation of NB in control mice resulted in 100% tumor take within 15 days. The pattern and incidence of metastases of NTX and control mice were similar. These results show that NTX has antineoplastic activity, and suggests a role for the endogenous opioid system in neuro-oncogenic events.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011336:Probability; D013997:Time Factors
D009270:Naloxone; D009271:Naltrexone