The researchers of Pennsylvania State University Medicine School say that low-dose of naltrexone (LDN) have extraordinary anti-tumor effect on human ovarian cancer with the tissue culture and nude mouse xenograft. When LDN has combination with chemotherapy, it enhances inhibition of tumor formation. This finding provides new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of ovarian cancer. Among the U.S. women, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in cancer-related mortality.

This study aims to demonstrate that, through the LDN adjusts the opioid growth factor (OGF) - opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) axis, whether the eggs of the tumors progress docetaxel which has been diagnosed will be changed or not. In addition, the researchers wanted to find out if LDN can be combined with standard chemotherapy of ovarian cancer and play a greater role. If we establish an LDN model, q hydroxyl dihydroxyvitamin yards brown ketone (NTX) exposures for six hours every 2 days, it can be found that the DNA synthesis and cell replication reduced. When the NTX short-term exposure is combined with standard chemotherapy drugs (paclitaxel or cisplatin), it can be observed that enhance of anti-cancer effects has no relations with any drugs. It is not paclitaxel or cisplatin, but the effects of LDN can be reversed. It indicates that LDN is non-toxic.

The LDN alone or LDN associated with chemotherapy drugs are shown to be effective. But whether the LDN tumor transplanted is suitable mice is still not clear. Use human ovarian cancer xenografts in nude mice, the LDN inhibition of tumor progression are found. It reduces DNA synthesis and angiogenesis, but does not change the cell survival. The LDN inhibitory effect on cancer progression can be comparable to cisplatin or paclitaxel. However, LDN combining with cisplatin, but not paclitaxel, has better anti-tumor effect than LDN alone or paclitaxel. In addition, cisplatin toxic to mice can make weight loss. However, the LDN in combination with cisplatin will reduce the toxicity of cisplatin irinotecan.It suggests that the protective effect of LDN on the adverse events is caused by the chemotherapy drugs. Finally, it is found that LDN can upregulate the expression of OGF and OGFr, indicating that LDN can activate this endogenous opioid system and thus inhibiting cell proliferation.

The treatments of Crohn's disease I, II clinical trials prove the LDN is effective. It is found that OGF for pancreatic cancer is safe and effective. The researchers of Pennsylvania State University Medicine School find that low doses of opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone significantly inhibit human ovarian cancer progression of mouse transplantation model. Low dose of naltrexone in combination with cisplatin, but not paclitaxel, enhanced tumor inhibition. Therefore, the low-dose naltrexone provides a possible biological pathways treatment which is benefit for ovarian cancer patients with non-toxic effective. Source: http://www.cospcn.com