title: Antiproliferative effect of thalidomide alone and combined with carmustine against C6 rat glioma.
abstract: Thalidomide could have therapeutic applications in neoplasms and in other diseases, particularly those of autoimmune origin. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various doses of thalidomide on the growth of C6 glioma in rats, and to determine its effects on parameters of cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Additionally, we investigated a potential enhancement of the antitumoral action of thalidomide when combined with a low dose of the antineoplastic carmustine. C6 glioma cells were implanted subcutaneously in Wistar rats. A highly malignant glioma developed in 80% of animals. When the tumour reached 2.0 cm diameter thalidomide was administered at doses of 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg/day. When given at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day thalidomide significantly reduced the tumour volume, the mitotic index and cell proliferation but not the vascular density. The combination of thalidomide plus carmustine increased the inhibitory effect on tumoral growth. Our results indicate that thalidomide is effective against malignant glioma; apparently by an antiproliferative effect, rather than by inhibition of angiogenesis; when combined with carmustine it could increase the response of glioma to antineoplastic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of México, México. ogar@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arrieta
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamariz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rembao
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotelo
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide; D002330:Carmustine