Unexpected remission of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with lung metastasis to the combination therapy of thalidomide and cyproheptadine: report of two cases and a preliminary HCC cell line study.
We reported two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with lung metastases who were treated with a combination of thalidomide and cyproheptadine. The use of cyproheptadine in these two cases was originally for skin itching. Follow-up CT images revealed a complete remission of HCC in both of them after treatment for 6 months and 6 weeks, respectively. A following experimental cell line study demonstrated that cyproheptadine effectively reduced the viability of two HCC cell lines.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
Yu-Min
YM
Feng
Chin-Wen
CW
Feng
Solomon Chih-Cheng
SC
Chen
Cheng-Da
CD
Hsu
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003533:Cyproheptadine; D013792:Thalidomide