Mayo Study Shows Dopamine Slows Cancer Development
A study conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) reports dopamine drugs currently used to treat patients with Parkinson’s Disease or heart attacks could also help cancer patients by slowing down tumor development.
In a study of mice with soft tissue sarcoma, the Mayo-CNCI scientists found dopamine blocked the growth of new blood vessels resulting in slower cancer progression. According to the team’s experiments, synthetic dopamine decreased the release of endothelial progenitor cells from the bone marrow into the circulatory system by suppressing a key enzyme known as MMP-9. Halting the release of progenitor cells inhibits the development of new blood vessels that feed the cancer.
While the results haven’t been replicated in humans yet, scientists find the discovery encouraging. As one Mayo researcher said,
“Sometimes new drugs may not be the answer. We looked at a novel use for an established product and have found very promising results.”
Sujit Basu, MD, PhD
Asst Prof of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic
Mayo’s article adds that a single dose of dopamine (200 milligrams dopamine hydrochloride per 5 millileters of solution) currently costs about 55 cents in their pharmacy.
If you’d like to learn more about this study, the group’s findings have been published in the March 13, 2008, online edition of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Source: Mayo Clinic News
Related Links: NursingKnowledge.org; EurekAlert.org
Technorati Tags: angiogenesis; oncology; Minnesota; Calcutta, India; pharmacodynamics
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