Botox May Have a New Use as an Adjuvant to Cancer Therapy

A novel study conducted by researchers at the Universite de Louvain in Brussels, Belgium, has found that the cosmetic treatment Botox may have a new use as an adjuvant to cancer therapy. Led by Bernard Gallez, PhD, professor of pharmacy, the study injected botulinum neurotoxin type A into two types of mouse tumors, causing the tumors' cellular vasculature to open, allowing for more effective destruction of previously resistant cancer cells. The study explores the possibility of using Botox as an adjuvant to assist the effective delivery of chemotherapies and radiation treatments.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that injecting Botox into mouse tumors can temporarily open the tumor vascular bed, alleviating tumor hypoxia and enhancing the response of tumors to radio- and chemotherapy.
• Botulinum toxin has been historically used to treat various conditions, including facial spasms and strabismus, and has gained popularity for its cosmetic uses on the face.
• The toxin acts on the nervous system by blocking the release of neurotransmitters, particularly acetylcholine and norepinephrine, which can prevent neuromuscular contractions of vessels in tumors.
• The study used two tumor models, one for fibrosarcoma and the other for mouse liver tumor, and found significant increases in cellular oxygen pressure and perfusion after treatment with Botox.
• The combination of Botox and the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide showed significantly stunted tumor growth after 3 days.
• The study suggests that Botox may offer advantages such as selectivity, absence of toxicity, and persistence for a longer time than other agents that act on tumor vasculature.

Statistics:

• 6 mm: The size of the tumors when Botox was injected.
• 3 days: The duration of the study on vascular and perfusion changes as well as responses to anticancer therapies.
• 2 types of mouse tumors: Fibrosarcoma and mouse liver tumor.
• 15%: The increase in cellular oxygen pressure after treatment with Botox.
• 25%: The increase in perfusion after treatment with Botox, as shown by MRI results.

Sources:

• Clinical Cancer Research, February 15, 2006.
• Health & Medicine Week, 2006, via NewsRx.com.