Article
Combination therapy of HNSCC with thalidomide and cisplatinum in a mouse model
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Published: | September 22, 2005 |
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Introduction: Recently, there are promising reports about combination therapies of antiangiogenic and chemotherapeutic agents. Thalidomide interferes with the VEGF and bFGF pathway. Therefore we tested the efficacy of Thalidomide and cisplatinum in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck (HNSCC) in a preclinical in vivo model.
Materials and methods: Cell lines of HNSCC were implanted in severe combined immunodeficient mice developing to solid tumors. The animals were treated with Thalidomide administerd by oral gavage and/or continuous infusion of cisplatinum applied intraperitoneally by an osmotic pump. The development of tumor mass was monitored daily.
Results: Tumor growth was inhibited by 25% and 19% in monotherapy with cisplatinum and Thalidomide, respectively. There was a marked synergistic effect in the combination therapy of the two agents with a growth inhibition of 47%. The treatment was well tolerated without any loss of weight.
Conclusions: In this preclinical model Thalidomide exhibits a marked enhancement of the antiproliferative effect of cisplatinum in the treatment of HNSCC. Our promising results suggest a clinical testing of this combination therapy especially as Thalidomide could be added to standard therapy regimens in form of orally applied tablets.