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Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2024Although carboplatin (CBDCA) is classified as a moderately emetogenic agent, the majority of guidelines recommend the use of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist in...
Although carboplatin (CBDCA) is classified as a moderately emetogenic agent, the majority of guidelines recommend the use of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist in addition to a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist with dexamethasone (DEX) for CBDCA-containing chemotherapy because of its higher emetogenic risk. However, the additional efficacy of aprepitant (APR) in CBDCA-containing treatment remains controversial, and data on multiple-day treatments are limited. Etoposide (ETP) was administered on days 1-3 in the CBDCA + ETP regimen, and it is important to evaluate suitable antiemetic therapy for the regimen. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of additional APR in CBDCA + ETP. Patients were divided into two groups and retrospectively evaluated. One was the control group, which was prophylactically administered palonosetron (PALO) and DEX, and the other was the APR group, which received APR orally with PALO and DEX. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) between the groups. The overall CR rates were 75.0 and 76.4% in the control and APR groups, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 1.00). In the acute phase, it was 88.9 and 97.2%, respectively, and 86.1 and 79.2% in the delayed phase, respectively, without significant differences (p = 0.10 and 0.38, respectively). The incidence and severity of nausea, vomiting, and anorexia were not significantly different between the two groups in the acute and delayed phases. Our findings suggest that combining APR with PALO and DEX does not improve the CR rate in CBDCA + ETP therapy.
Topics: Aprepitant; Carboplatin; Humans; Dexamethasone; Palonosetron; Male; Etoposide; Antiemetics; Female; Middle Aged; Vomiting; Aged; Nausea; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Drug Therapy, Combination; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Quinuclidines; Morpholines; Antineoplastic Agents; Isoquinolines; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38897969
DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b24-00046 -
American Journal of TherapeuticsThe worldwide increase in the occurrence of cancer associated with the limitations of immunotherapy and the emergence of resistance have impaired the prognosis of cancer...
BACKGROUND
The worldwide increase in the occurrence of cancer associated with the limitations of immunotherapy and the emergence of resistance have impaired the prognosis of cancer patients, which leads to the search for alternative treatment methods. Drug repositioning, a well-established process approved by regulatory agencies, is considered an alternative strategy for the fast identification of drugs, because it is relatively less costly and represents lower risks for patients.
AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY
We report the most relevant studies about drug repositioning in oncology, emphasizing that its implementation faces financial and regulatory obstacles, making the creation of incentives necessary to stimulate the involvement of the pharmaceutical industry.
DATA SOURCES
We present 63 studies in which 52 non-anticancer drugs with anticancer activity against a number of malignancies are described.
THERAPEUTIC INNOVATIONS
Some have already been the target of phase III studies, such as the Add-Aspirin trial for nonmetastatic solid tumors, as well as 9 other drugs (aprepitant, artesunate, auranofin, captopril, celecoxib, disulfiram, itraconazole, ritonavir, and sertraline) in the CUSP9* clinical trial for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. Others have already been successful in repositioning such as thalidomide, zoledronic acid, celecoxib, methotrexate, and gemcitabine.
CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, drug repositioning represents a promising alternative for the treatment of oncological disorders; however, the support from funding agencies and from the government is still needed, the latter regarding regulatory issues.
Topics: Drug Repositioning; Glioblastoma; Humans; Itraconazole; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Ritonavir
PubMed: 31033488
DOI: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000000906 -
European Journal of Pharmacology Sep 2023Capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) activate transient receptor potential (TRP) vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) and TRP ankyrin-1 (TRPA1), respectively. TRPV1 and TRPA1...
Capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) activate transient receptor potential (TRP) vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) and TRP ankyrin-1 (TRPA1), respectively. TRPV1 and TRPA1 expression have been identified in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI mucosal functions remain largely undefined for TRPV1 and TRPA1 with side-dependence and regional differences in signalling unclear. Here we investigated TRPV1- and TRPA1-induced vectorial ion transport as changes in short-circuit current (ΔI), in defined segments of mouse colon mucosa (ascending, transverse and descending) under voltage-clamp conditions in Ussing chambers. Drugs were applied basolaterally (bl) or apically (ap). Capsaicin responses were biphasic, with primary secretory and secondary anti-secretory phases, observed with bl application only, which predominated in descending colon. AITC responses were monophasic and secretory, with ΔI dependent on colonic region (ascending vs. descending) and sidedness (bl vs. ap). Aprepitant (neurokinin-1 (NK1) antagonist, bl) and tetrodotoxin (Na channel blocker, bl) significantly inhibited capsaicin primary responses in descending colon, while GW627368 (EP4 receptor antagonist, bl) and piroxicam (cyclooxygenase inhibitor, bl) inhibited AITC responses in ascending and descending colonic mucosae. Antagonism of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor had no effect on mucosal TRPV1 signalling, while tetrodotoxin and antagonists of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 and 4 receptors, CGRP receptor, and EP1/2/3 receptors had no effect on mucosal TRPA1 signalling. Our data demonstrates the regional-specificity and side-dependence of colonic TRPV1 and TRPA1 signalling, with involvement of submucosal neurons and mediation by epithelial NK1 receptor activation for TRPV1, and endogenous prostaglandins and EP4 receptor activation for TRPA1 mucosal responses.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Transient Receptor Potential Channels; TRPA1 Cation Channel; Capsaicin; Tetrodotoxin; Colon; Mucous Membrane; TRPV Cation Channels
PubMed: 37394028
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175897 -
Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Dec 2019Cough is mediated by vagal afferent fibres innervating the larynx and proximal airways. Pre-clinical studies suggest that vagal C fibres produce Substance P, one of the... (Review)
Review
Cough is mediated by vagal afferent fibres innervating the larynx and proximal airways. Pre-clinical studies suggest that vagal C fibres produce Substance P, one of the tachykinin family of neuropeptides, which has been shown to enhance cough via the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor and studies in animal models have also shown that NK-1 antagonists are effective at blocking induced cough. In the past, tachykinin receptor antagonists have yielded disappointing results in treating asthma and cough, however most of the activity of the agents tested was restricted to the peripheral nervous system and also the outcomes measures evaluating cough not optimal. More recently a small proof of concept study has suggest that aprepitant, an NK-1 antagonist licensed for the prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, might have beneficial effects on cough frequency in patients with lung cancer. In this review we investigate the current evidence for the anti-tussive effect of these therapies and the clinical trials in progress.
Topics: Animals; Antitussive Agents; Aprepitant; Cough; Humans; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Receptors, Neurokinin-1
PubMed: 31622673
DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2019.101853 -
Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists as a Potential Novel Therapeutic Option for Osteosarcoma Patients.Journal of Clinical Medicine Mar 2023Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor predominantly affecting children and adolescents with high malignant potential. It is a cause of serious public health challenges due to its... (Review)
Review
Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor predominantly affecting children and adolescents with high malignant potential. It is a cause of serious public health challenges due to its high morbidity rates and metastatic potential. Metastasis in osteosarcoma may manifest either during treatment of the primary tumor, shortly after treatment, or a long time after the end of the treatment. So far, there are no therapeutics that can prevent or treat osteosarcoma metastasis. The peptide substance P (SP) and its high-affinity receptor, Neurokinin-1 (NK-1R), are known to positively correlate with osteosarcoma progression. Osteosarcoma cells overexpress NK-1R. SP is known to elicit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells and induce angiogenesis and migration, leading to the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. In contrast, NK-1R antagonists, such as aprepitant, inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Aprepitant is also known to inhibit the migration of osteosarcoma cells, as well as reduce the expression levels and activities of transcriptional regulators of metastasis-related genes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). These preceding studies highlighted the antimetastatic role of aprepitant in osteosarcoma Moreover, combination therapy consisting of chemotherapy and NK-1R antagonist increases the chemosensitization of osteosarcoma cells. Interestingly, this combination therapy in vitro and in vivo decreases the severe side-effects of chemotherapy and produces neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, nephroprotection, and cardioprotection. In this review, we provide an update on existing data and suggest the need to repurpose aprepitant for use as an antitumor drug for treatment of osteosarcoma, and they suggest the need for phase I and II clinical trials for assessment of its safety/efficacy.
PubMed: 36983138
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062135 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Jul 2023Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been identified as a big (very frequently encountered) little (not linked to life-threatening outcomes) problem. Traditional...
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been identified as a big (very frequently encountered) little (not linked to life-threatening outcomes) problem. Traditional drugs (dexamethasone, droperidol or similar drugs, serotonin receptor antagonists) each have significant but limited effect, leading to an increasing use of combination therapies. High-risk patients, often identified through use of risk scoring systems, remain with a significant residual risk despite combining up to three traditional drugs. A recent correspondence in this Journal proposes the use of up to five anti-emetic drugs to further minimise the risk. This disruptive strategy was supported by favourable initial results, absence of side-effects and lower acquisition costs of the added new drugs (aprepitant and palonosetron) because of their recent loss of patent protection. These results are provocative and hypothesis generating, but need confirmation and do not warrant immediate changes in clinical practice. The next steps will also necessitate wider implementation of protocols protecting patients from PONV and a search for additional drugs and techniques aimed at treating established PONV.
Topics: Humans; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; Antiemetics; Droperidol; Serotonin Antagonists; Risk Factors; Vomiting; Dexamethasone; Drug Therapy, Combination
PubMed: 37179157
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.04.004 -
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and... 2019Itch treatment is a major challenge in the dermatologist's practice. We encounter patients suffering from pruritus on a regular basis, and often lack diverse treatment... (Review)
Review
Itch treatment is a major challenge in the dermatologist's practice. We encounter patients suffering from pruritus on a regular basis, and often lack diverse treatment options to adequately respond to the patients' needs. In the last 20 years, novel pathways have been investigated that were beyond the scope of histamine. Although most did not result in a molecule available on the Canadian market, it is interesting and important as health care providers to stay up to date with new neuronal pathways involved in itch transmission and potential new therapeutic options. In this review, we will discuss pathways targeted in new topical treatments such as antagonist of proteinase-activated receptor-2, the endocannabinoid system, neurotrophins and tropomyosin-related kinase A receptor, the transient receptor potential-vanilloid or transient receptor potential-melastatine ion channels. New systemic therapies are now focusing on antagonizing the neurokinin receptor, modulating the opioidergic system, or targeting itch cytokines such as interleukin-31.
Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Aprepitant; Capsaicin; Endocannabinoids; Humans; Interleukins; Menthol; Narcotic Antagonists; Nerve Growth Factor; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Polidocanol; Pruritus; Receptor, PAR-2; Receptor, trkA; TRPM Cation Channels; TRPV Cation Channels
PubMed: 31167547
DOI: 10.1177/1203475419852050 -
Future Oncology (London, England) Jun 2022To determine the antiemetic efficacy of a 6-day aprepitant schedule in patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer and who were... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
To determine the antiemetic efficacy of a 6-day aprepitant schedule in patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer and who were chemotherapy-naive were screened. The patients willing to use aprepitant were randomly divided into two groups: prolonged use of aprepitant (PA; 6-day aprepitant) and standard use of aprepitant (SA; 3-day aprepitant); the patients who rejected aprepitant were recruited into the control group (group C). Primary end points included the safety and the number of days without chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. There was no statistical difference in adverse events among the three groups. The average days without chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting of group PA (18.28 ± 3.35) was significantly longer than in groups SA and C. Furthermore, better life function scores were achieved in group PA according to the Functional Living Index - Emesis questionnaire. In this study 6-day aprepitant was safe and more effective than standard 3-day aprepitant in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting due to 3-day cisplatin regimens.
Topics: Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents; Aprepitant; Cisplatin; Dexamethasone; Humans; Nausea; Vomiting
PubMed: 35587019
DOI: 10.2217/fon-2021-1523 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Jan 2022TRAAK (KCNK4, K2P4.1) is a mechanosensitive two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel. Due to its expression within sensory neurons and genetic link to neuropathic pain it...
TRAAK (KCNK4, K2P4.1) is a mechanosensitive two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel. Due to its expression within sensory neurons and genetic link to neuropathic pain it represents a promising potential target for novel analgesics. In common with many other channels in the wider K2P sub-family, there remains a paucity of small molecule pharmacological tools. Specifically, there is a lack of molecules selective for TRAAK over the other members of the TREK subfamily of K2P channels. We developed a thallium flux assay to allow high throughput screening of compounds and facilitate the identification of novel TRAAK activators. Using a library of ∼1200 drug like molecules we identified Aprepitant as a small molecule activator of TRAAK. Aprepitant is an NK-1 antagonist used to treat nausea and vomiting. Close structural analogues of Aprepitant and a range of NK-1 antagonists were also selected or designed for purchase or brief chemical synthesis and screened for their ability to activate TRAAK. Electrophysiology experiments confirmed that Aprepitant activates both the 'long' and 'short' transcript variants of TRAAK. We also demonstrated that Aprepitant is selective and does not activate other members of the K2P superfamily. This work describes the development of a high throughput assay to identify potential TRAAK activators and subsequent identification and confirmation of the novel TRAAK activator Aprepitant. This discovery identifies a useful tool compound which can be used to further probe the function of TRAAK K2P channels.
Topics: Aprepitant; Cell Line; Humans; Ion Channel Gating; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Potassium Channels; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thallium
PubMed: 34942533
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.031 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Dec 2023This review is an update of the MASCC/ESMO 2015 recommendations for the prophylaxis of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by multiple-day chemotherapy,... (Review)
Review
2023 updated MASCC/ESMO consensus recommendations: prevention of nausea and vomiting following multiple-day chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and breakthrough nausea and vomiting.
PURPOSE
This review is an update of the MASCC/ESMO 2015 recommendations for the prophylaxis of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by multiple-day chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and breakthrough nausea and vomiting.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed from June 1, 2015, through February 1, 2023.
RESULTS
We identified 56 references (16 were duplications or invalid), leaving 40 manuscripts for this search. The panel classified level I evidence (three manuscripts) and level II evidence (14 manuscripts). High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant were discussed in four of these manuscripts, and multiple-day chemotherapy treatment in 15. Some manuscripts covered both topics. Additionally, a search for breakthrough nausea and vomiting resulted in 12 "hits." No new relevant studies were identified.
CONCLUSIONS
The recommendations for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplants and patients undergoing multiple-day cisplatin were updated. For patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy for stem cell transplant, a combination of a 5-HT receptor antagonist with dexamethasone and aprepitant is recommended. Olanzapine could be considered part of the antiemetic regimen. Patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin should receive a 5-HT receptor antagonist plus dexamethasone plus aprepitant plus olanzapine. For patients experiencing breakthrough nausea and vomiting, the available evidence suggests using a single dose of olanzapine daily for 3 days.
Topics: Humans; Aprepitant; Olanzapine; Cisplatin; Consensus; Serotonin; Antineoplastic Agents; Vomiting; Nausea; Antiemetics; Dexamethasone
PubMed: 38105286
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08224-1