title: First study of oral Artenimol-R in advanced cervical cancer: clinical benefit, tolerability and tumor markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Artenimol-R is cytotoxic in transformed cervical cells and safety in humans is yet to be established. The present study investigates the clinical benefits, safety and the tumor marker effect of orally administered Artenimol-R in patients with advanced cervix carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients were treated with Artenimol-R for 28 days. Clinical symptoms, vaginal discharge and pain were followed-up. Adverse events were recorded. Biopsy samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of relevant tumor markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Artenimol-R treatment induced clinical remission with a median time for the disappearance of the symptoms being 7 days. No adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred. The expression of p53, Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and antigen Ki-67 as a cellular marker of proliferation, as well as the number of blood vessels stained by the CD31 antibody decreased, whereas the expression of transferrin receptor protein 1 (CD71) increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current pilot study provides evidence on the improvement of the clinical symptoms and the good tolerability of Artenimol-R in patients with advanced carcinoma of the cervix uteri. A survival trial with Artenimol-R in advanced patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Dafra Pharma Ltd, Slachthuisstraat 30 b7, 2300 Turnhout, Belgium. fhj@dafra.be
authors.forename: Frans Herwig
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adoubi
authors.forename: Kouassi Comoe
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: J C
authors.forename: Tinne
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: DE Cnodder
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tschulakow
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Efferth
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; C570120:Artenimol-R; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C068126:CD71 antigen; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D066246:ErbB Receptors