title: Trophic factors for Parkinson's disease: To live or let die.
abstract: Trophic factors show great promise in laboratory studies as potential therapies for PD. However, multiple double-blind, clinical trials have failed to show benefits in comparison to a placebo control. This article will review the scientific rationale for testing trophic factors in PD, the results of the different clinical trials that have been performed to date, and the possible explanations for these failed outcomes. We will also consider future directions and the likelihood that trophic factors will become a viable therapy for patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: C Warren
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Olanow
authors.affiliation: RTBioconsultants, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Bartus
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Volpicelli-Daley
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kordower
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: Trophic Factors; Parkinson's Disease; GDNF; Neurturin