• Roberto Bianchi, Michael Brines, Giuseppe Lauria, Costanza Savino, Alessandra Gilardini, Gabriella Nicolini, Virginia Rodriguez-Menendez, Norberto Oggioni, Annalisa Canta, Paola Penza, Raffaella Lombardi, Claudio Minoia, Anna Ronchi, Anthony Cerami, Pietro Ghezzi, and Guido Cavaletti.
• Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy. robbia@marionegri.it
• Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Apr 15; 12 (8): 2607-12.

PurposeAntineoplastic drugs, such as cisplatin (CDDP), are severely neurotoxic, causing disabling peripheral neuropathies with clinical signs known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity. Cotreatment with neuroprotective agents and CDDP has been proposed for preventing or reversing the neuropathy. Erythropoietin given systemically has a wide range of neuroprotective actions in animal models of central and peripheral nervous system damage. However, the erythropoietic action is a potential cause of side effects if erythropoietin is used for neuroprotection. We have successfully identified derivatives of erythropoietin, including carbamylated erythropoietin, which do not raise the hematocrit but retain the neuroprotective action exerted by erythropoietin.Experimental DesignWe have developed previously an experimental chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity that closely resembles CDDP neurotoxicity in humans. The present study compared the effects of erythropoietin and carbamylated erythropoietin (50 microg/kg/d thrice weekly) on CDDP (2 mg/kg/d i.p. twice weekly for 4 weeks) neurotoxicity in vivo.ResultsCDDP given to Wistar rats significantly lowered their growth rate (P < 0.05), with slower sensory nerve conduction velocity (P < 0.001) and reduced intraepidermal nerve fibers density (P < 0.001 versus controls). Coadministration of CDDP and erythropoietin or carbamylated erythropoietin partially but significantly prevented the sensory nerve conduction velocity reduction. Both molecules preserved intraepidermal nerve fiber density, thus confirming their neuroprotective effect at the pathologic level. The protective effects were not associated with any difference in platinum concentration in dorsal root ganglia, sciatic nerve, or kidney specimens.ConclusionsThese results widen the spectrum of possible use of erythropoietin and carbamylated erythropoietin as neuroprotectant drugs, strongly supporting their effectiveness.

36 keywords...

hide…