Trends in pharmacological sciences
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Evidence points to a role of L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) in cancer. First, clinical data identified LPI as a biomarker for poor prognosis in cancer patients. Second, in vitro studies demonstrated significantly elevated levels of LPI in highly proliferative cancer cells. ⋯ GPR55 is expressed in human tumours and drives proliferation and its expression correlates with tumour aggressiveness. Overall patient survival is lower in patients whose glioblastomas express higher levels of GPR55. Thus, evidence suggests that interaction with GPR55 might underlie the pro-tumoural actions of LPI.
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Trends Pharmacol. Sci. · Dec 2010
ReviewNeuroprotection for traumatic brain injury: translational challenges and emerging therapeutic strategies.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes secondary biochemical changes that contribute to subsequent tissue damage and associated neuronal cell death. Neuroprotective treatments that limit secondary tissue loss and/or improve behavioral outcome have been well established in multiple animal models of TBI. ⋯ More recently, changes in experimental approach, as well as altered clinical trial methodologies, have raised cautious optimism regarding the outcomes of future clinical trials. Here we critically review developing experimental neuroprotective strategies that show promise, and we propose criteria for improving the probability of successful clinical translation.
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Current therapy for asthma with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting inhaled beta(2)-agonists is highly effective, safe and relatively inexpensive, but for many patients, their disease remains poorly controlled. Most advances in asthma therapy have occurred through improving these drug classes, and a major developmental hurdle is to improve existing drug classes. The major unmet needs include better treatment of severe asthma, and curative therapies for mild to moderate asthma. ⋯ New treatments targeting the underlying allergic/immune process would treat concomitant allergic diseases. Improved immunotherapy approaches have the prospect of disease modification, although prospects for a cure are currently remote. The most promising therapeutic developments for asthma are discussed in this review.
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Despite intensive research, genetics-based personalized pain therapy has yet to emerge. Monogenetic heredity seems to be restricted to very rare and extreme phenotypes, whereas common phenotypes are very complex and multigenetic. ⋯ However, genetics has some potential practical uses: CYP2D6, MC1R and potentially PTGS2 could provide guidance on the right choice of analgesics. After more than a decade of identifying genetic associations, the current challenge is to intensify compilation of this information for precisely defined clinical settings for which improved pain treatment is possible.