Neurotoxicology
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Paclitaxel (Taxol), a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast and ovarian tumors, has been reported to induce a predominantly sensory neuropathy. Co-treatment with neurotrophic factors and paclitaxel has been proposed for preventing or reversing paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C and D was recently identified as a neurotrophic factor and was reported to facilitate nerve regeneration in vivo. ⋯ In the short-term high dose study, paclitaxel treated rats lost 10% of their body weight, had reduced erythrocyte counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations which were not prevented by treatment with prosaptide. TX14(A) did not diminish paclitaxel cytotoxicity of breast cancer cells in vitro. These findings suggest that prosaptide prevents the neurotoxic effects of paclitaxel while not interfering with its anti-tumor activity.