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Bombesin improves survival from methotrexate-induced enterocolitis
K U Chu1, S Higashide, B M Evers
1Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Annals of Surgery
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Bombesin significantly improved survival in rats with methotrexate-induced enterocolitis. This peptide may help prevent chemotherapy-related gut damage in patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Elemental diets can cause gut mucosal atrophy.
- Methotrexate (MTX) induces lethal enterocolitis in rats on elemental diets.
- Bombesin is known to prevent gut mucosal atrophy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if bombesin improves survival from methotrexate-induced enterocolitis.
- To investigate bombesin's potential role in mitigating chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Sixty rats were fed an elemental diet and randomly assigned to receive saline or bombesin.
- Bombesin administration began either on day 0 or day 14.
- Methotrexate was administered 14 days after starting the elemental diet.
Main Results:
- Bombesin prevented ileal mucosal atrophy caused by the elemental diet.
- Bombesin significantly reduced mortality in rats treated with methotrexate.
- The protective effect was observed whether bombesin was given before or at the time of MTX administration.
Conclusions:
- Bombesin significantly enhanced survival in a lethal model of MTX-induced enterocolitis.
- The mechanism may involve bombesin's ability to maintain gut mucosal integrity.
- Bombesin could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent severe enterocolitis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.