Effect of thalidomide in different tumors in rodents.
This study investigated the effects of chronic administration of thalidomide on three different neoplasms of ectodermic origin in rodents: 1) chemically induced tumors of the nervous system of rats by transplacental exposure to ethylnitrosourea; 2) transplanted RPMI-1846 melanoma in hamsters and 3) transplanted C6 glioblastoma in rats. No effects were seen on thalidomide-treated rats on the frequency- and time of tumor development induced by ethylnitrosourea. In contrast, a reduction in tumoral growth and mitotic-index was obtained in animals treated with thalidomide in transplanted tumors, melanoma and glioblastoma, when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and 0.025, respectively). These results suggest that, although thalidomide is not a cytotoxic drug for neoplastic cells, it might partially inhibit the tumoral growth through any of its pharmacological actions; by blockage of cell-surface adhesion receptors induction of DNA oxidation, or inhibition of angiogenesis. Further investigations on the use of thalidomide perhaps associated to cytotoxic drugs, for treatment of ectodermic neoplasms seem guaranteed.
Palencia
Guadalupe
G
Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Insurgentes Sur 3877, Mexico 14269, D.F., Mexico.
Arrieta
Oscar
O
Ríos
Camilo
C
Altagracia
Marina
M
Kravzov
Jaime
J
Sotelo
Julio
J
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide