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Treatment of cytomegalovirus with NSAID, antivirals reduced medulloblastoma growth
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Human cytomegalovirus may have an active and important role in medulloblastoma, suggesting that it may be a possible treatment target, according to the results of a recently published study. Treating cytomegalovirus with NSAID or antiviral medications, in addition to the use of certain chemotherapeutic agents, may offer a new treatment option for patients with this disease.
According to background information, cytomegalovirus is found in about 70% of adults and is associated with several other solid tumors, including breast and prostate cancers. In addition, many tumors have a high expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, which researchers said aids in the development of cancer. Therefore, C2 inhibitors have been used as a method of cancer prevention in clinical studies.
In this study, researchers examined several medulloblastoma cell lines and found that a large proportion of them were infected with cytomegalovirus. They also found that the virus directly modulated the levels of C2 expression.
They then examined the use of the antiviral drug valganciclovir and celecoxib, and studies indicated that the use of these drugs prevented cytomegalovirus replication.
Because both the drugs used in the study have relatively good adverse effect profiles, the researchers said they see immediate opportunities for studying their effect on different forms of tumor.
For more information:
- Baryawno N. J Clin Invest. 2011;121:4043-4055.