Corticorelin acetate injections for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema.
BACKGROUND
The use of corticosteroids has been shown to be effective in the management of vasogenic edema caused by brain tumors, and is currently the standard of care. The associated systemic side effects, however, can be even more debilitating than the primary disease process, ultimately warranting premature discontinuation of steroids in some patients. In response, corticorelin acetate, a synthetic targeted human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) analogue, has been developed to simulate the benefits of corticosteroids in treating peritumoral brain edema (PBE), while sparing the systemic toxicity.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the development of corticorelin acetate and its potential role in treating PBE as an alternative to standard corticosteroid therapy.


METHODS
Relevant articles and abstracts were obtained from searches of the medical and chemical literature databases, as well as from the references from published articles.


CONCLUSIONS
Animal studies and a Phase I randomized trial have demonstrated that hCRF is well tolerated and effective in reducing PBE and its associated signs and symptoms. In addition, the effectiveness of this drug may be helpful in sparing the use of corticosteroid therapy in patients with brain tumors, with the results from several multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III clinical trials currently pending.
Moliterno
Jennifer A
JA
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, New Haven, CT, USA.
Henry
Euphael
E
Pannullo
Susan C
SC
D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone