In the war against solid tumors arsenic trioxide needs partners.
In the past decade, the therapeutic potential of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was recognized. This encouraged other investigators to test the efficacy of ATO in the management of other hematological and solid tumor malignancies. Notably, as a single agent, arsenic trioxide did not benefit patients diagnosed with solid tumors. However, when it was combined with other agents, treatment benefit emerged. In this article, we have summarized the outcome of clinical trials that used arsenic trioxide as a single agent as well as in combination settings in patients diagnosed with solid tumors. We have also reviewed possible additional mechanisms by which ATO may be useful as a chemosensitizer in combination therapy. We hope that our review will encourage clinical investigators to rationally combine ATO with additional chemotherapeutic agents in treating patients diagnosed with solid tumors.
Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1550 NW 10th Avenue, FOX 431A, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Pochi R
PR
Subbarayan
Bach
B
Ardalan
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017277:Drug Approval; D004357:Drug Synergism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; C400551:GLI1 protein, human; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D010087:Oxides; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1; C093476:promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha fusion oncoprotein; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide