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Aspirin Derivative Active Against Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 13 - A derivative of aspirin called NCX-4016 can destroy ovarian cancer cells that have developed resistance to cisplatin, according to a report in the February 13th early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Cisplatin is an effective initial agent against ovarian cancer, but it does not work against recurrent disease, which invariably occurs a few months after initial treatment, the authors of the study note. Treatment with cisplatin seems to cause the build-up of cellular thiols, which, in turn, renders the cells resistant to the drug.
Dr. Periannan Kuppusamy, from Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues decided to investigate the activity of NCX-4016 against cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells because it is a drug that is activated by cellular thiols.
The authors found that treatment with NCX-4016 reduced both cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant cell populations. In addition, treatment with NCX-4016 actually restored cisplatin sensitivity. Treatment with NCX-4016 and then cisplatin had greater cytotoxicity than treatment with either agent alone.
The results suggest that NCX-4016 might be a useful treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer, the authors conclude.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006.