ISSN:
1573-7233
Keywords:
animal models
;
chemotherapy
;
gene expression
;
metastasis
;
tumour progression
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Cancer chemotherapy is currently undergoing an intensive reappraisal because of its unimpressive performance against the major common cancers. There are a number of possible reasons for this lack of success; one considered here is that under some circumstances anti-neoplastic drug treatment actually increases the malignant behaviour of tumours. Support for this idea comes mainly from experimental studies in which drug treatments increased metastatic spread. Investigation of this phenomenon shows that drug induced modifications of the host, including immunosuppression and vascular damage, can indeed facilitate metastasis. In addition, new data are presented demonstrating that the direct action of drugs on the tumour cells themselves can have similar enhancing effects. The possible mechanisms underlying such direct effects are discussed and the ability of anti-cancer drugs to cause genetic mutations, amplify genes, and alter gene expression are considered. While the nature and extent of this facilitation of tumour malignancy is not fully understood, it is suggested that this possibility should be considered in the design of treatment protocols.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00047465
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