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Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics
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Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics

Published on: January 11, 2019

Stereospecific modulation of tumorigenicity by opioid antagonists

I S Zagon, P J McLaughlin

    European Journal of Pharmacology
    |July 11, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    The (-) isomer of naloxone, an opioid antagonist, reduced tumor incidence and increased survival time in mice with neuroblastoma. The (+) isomer had no effect, indicating stereospecificity in cancer response.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Oncology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Endogenous opioid systems are implicated in neuro-oncogenic expression.
    • Opioid antagonists, like naloxone, modulate opioid receptor activity.
    • Stereospecificity of drug action is crucial for understanding therapeutic mechanisms.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the stereospecific effects of naloxone isomers on neuroblastoma tumor response.
    • To determine the role of endogenous opioid systems in neuro-oncogenesis.

    Main Methods:

    • A/Jax mice were inoculated with S20Y neuroblastoma cells.
    • Mice received daily subcutaneous injections of either (-)naloxone or (+)naloxone (15 mg/kg).
    • Tumor incidence, time to tumor appearance, and survival time were monitored and compared to control groups.

    Main Results:

    • Daily administration of (-)naloxone resulted in a 71% tumor incidence, a 33% delay in tumor appearance, and a 28% increase in survival time.
    • (+)naloxone administration showed no significant difference in tumor incidence, time to appearance, or survival compared to controls.
    • Control mice exhibited 100% tumor incidence within 13 days.

    Conclusions:

    • Opioid antagonists exert stereospecific effects on neural cancers.
    • Endogenous opioid systems play a significant role in neuro-oncogenic expression.
    • (-)naloxone demonstrates potential as an agent to modulate neuroblastoma progression.

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