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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupressure as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Published on: June 21, 2024
GDF-15 Neutralization Alleviates Platinum-Based Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis, Anorexia, and Weight Loss in Mice and
Danna M Breen1, Hanna Kim1, Donald Bennett2
1Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Platinum-based cancer therapy is restricted by dose-limiting side effects and is associated with elevation of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15). But whether this elevation contributes to such side effects has been unclear. Here, we explored the effects of GDF-15 blockade on platinum-based chemotherapy-induced emesis, anorexia, and weight loss in mice and/or nonhuman primate models. We found that circulating GDF-15 is higher in subjects with cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy and is positively associated with weight loss in colorectal cancer (NCT00609622). Further, chemotherapy agents associated with high clinical emetic score induce circulating GDF-15 and weight loss in mice. Platinum-based treatment-induced anorexia and weight loss are attenuated in GDF-15 knockout mice, while GDF-15 neutralization with the monoclonal antibody mAB1 improves survival. In nonhuman primates, mAB1 treatment attenuates anorexia and emesis. These results suggest that GDF-15 neutralization is a potential therapeutic approach to alleviate chemotherapy-induced side effects and improve the quality of life.
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