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Science 12 August 1983:
Vol. 221. no. 4611, pp. 671 - 673
DOI: 10.1126/science.6867737
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Articles

Science, Vol 221, Issue 4611, 671-673
Copyright © 1983 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Naltrexone modulates tumor response in mice with neuroblastoma

IS Zagon and PJ McLaughlin

Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist, had both stimulatory and inhibitory effects, depending on the dosage, on the growth of S20Y neuroblastoma in A/Jax mice. Daily injections of 0.1 milligram of naltrexone per kilogram of body weight, which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for 4 to 6 hours per day, resulted in a 33 percent tumor incidence, a 98 percent delay in the time before tumor appearance, and a 36 percent increase in survival time. Neuroblastoma-inoculated mice receiving 10 milligrams of naltrexone per kilogram, which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for 24 hours per day, had a 100 percent tumor incidence, a 27 percent reduction in the time before tumor appearance, and a 19 percent decrease in survival time. Inoculation of neuroblastoma cells in control subjects resulted in 100 percent tumor incidence within 29 days. These results show that naltrexone can modulate tumor response and suggest a role for the endorphin-opiate receptor system in neuro-oncogenic events.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Revisiting the ALA/N ({alpha}-Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone) Protocol for People With Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Report of 3 New Cases.
B. M. Berkson, D. M. Rubin, and A. J. Berkson (2009)
Integr Cancer Ther 8, 416-422
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Endogenous Opioids Regulate Expression of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: A New Paradigm for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
I. S. Zagon, K. A. Rahn, A. P. Turel, and P. J. McLaughlin (2009)
Experimental Biology and Medicine 234, 1383-1392
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Reversal of Signs and Symptoms of a B-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient Using Only Low-Dose Naltrexone.
B. M. Berkson, D. M. Rubin, and A. J. Berkson (2007)
Integr Cancer Ther 6, 293-296
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The Long-term Survival of a Patient With Pancreatic Cancer With Metastases to the Liver After Treatment With the Intravenous {alpha}-Lipoic Acid/Low-Dose Naltrexone Protocol.
B. M. Berkson, D. M. Rubin, and A. J. Berkson (2006)
Integr Cancer Ther 5, 83-89
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Opioids As Modulators of Cell Death and Survival--Unraveling Mechanisms and Revealing New Indications.
I. Tegeder and G. Geisslinger (2004)
Pharmacol. Rev. 56, 351-369
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Opioid Peptide Gene Expression in the Primary Hereditary Cardiomyopathy of the Syrian Hamster. III. AUTOCRINE STIMULATION OF PRODYNORPHIN GENE EXPRESSION BY DYNORPHIN B.
C. Ventura and G. Pintus (1997)
J. Biol. Chem. 272, 6699-6705
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effect of Morphine on Growth of Metastatic Colon Cancer In Vivo.
M. P. Yeager and T. A. Colacchio (1991)
Arch Surg 126, 454-456
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Increased brain size and cellular content in infant rats treated with an opiate antagonist.
I. Zagon and P. McLaughlin (1983)
Science 221, 1179-1180
   Abstract »    PDF »


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