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[Intraarterial chemotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinomas: combination with MDR-overcoming agents]

Y Kakehi1, O Yoshida, T Segawa

  • 1Department of Urology, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine.

Insights

This study investigated cepharanthin as a multidrug resistance (MDR)-overcoming drug in renal cell carcinoma. Cepharanthin showed promise in treating bone metastases, with some patients responding markedly to the combination therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in cancer chemotherapy.
  • The MDR1 gene and its P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump are key mechanisms of MDR.
  • Identifying MDR-overcoming agents is crucial for improving treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the MDR-overcoming potential of five agents, including cepharanthin, in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines.
  • To assess the sensitizing activity of cepharanthin in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents.
  • To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of cepharanthin-based combination therapy in patients with metastatic RCC.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro analysis of MDR-overcoming agents in high MDR1-expressing human RCC cell lines.
  • Assessment of cepharanthin's sensitizing effects on vinblastine, adriamycin, epirubicin, cisplatin, mitomycin C, and etoposide.
  • Intraarterial administration of vinblastine/adriamycin (or epirubicin) plus cepharanthin in 6 patients with metastatic RCC.

Main Results:

  • Cepharanthin demonstrated sensitizing activity in MDR1-overexpressing RCC cell lines.
  • Two out of four patients with bone metastases showed a marked response to the combination therapy.
  • One patient experienced renal tubular impairment during treatment for contralateral kidney metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Cepharanthin exhibits potential as an MDR-overcoming agent in renal cell carcinoma.
  • Combination therapy with cepharanthin may be effective for treating bone metastases in RCC.
  • Further investigation is warranted to optimize the use and assess the safety profile of cepharanthin in RCC treatment.

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