Radiotherapy Combined with Aprepitant Shows Promise for Treatment of Childhood Brain Cancer
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 16, 2025 8 hours, 4 minutes ago
Medical News: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most aggressive and deadly childhood brain tumors. It primarily affects children and is known for its rapid progression and resistance to conventional treatments. Despite ongoing research, survival rates have remained dismal, with most patients living only 16 to 24 months after diagnosis. Standard treatments, such as radiotherapy, offer temporary relief but do not significantly extend survival. However, researchers from the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), Spain, have explored a novel combination therapy that could provide new hope for DIPG patients.
Radiotherapy Combined with Aprepitant Shows Promise for Treatment of Childhood Brain Cancer
Radiotherapy Combined with Aprepitant May Improve Outcomes
A recent study has revealed that combining radiotherapy with the drug aprepitant, an antagonist of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), could be a promising strategy for treating DIPG. This
Medical News report highlights how aprepitant can counteract the effects of a peptide called substance P, which plays a crucial role in glioma progression. Glioma cells have been found to overexpress NK-1R, making them vulnerable to NK-1R inhibitors such as aprepitant.
Aprepitant is already approved for use in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, this study suggests that it has a much broader therapeutic potential, particularly in brain tumors. The drug has been shown to penetrate the brain, inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis, which is programmed cell death. By blocking NK-1R, aprepitant suppresses tumor growth, reduces inflammation, and may enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy.
How Aprepitant Works Against DIPG
Substance P binds to NK-1R, triggering various processes that promote cancer growth, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and resistance to cell death. The researchers found that aprepitant effectively blocks these pathways. Here are some of the key findings:
-Inhibition of Tumor Growth: Aprepitant disrupts the signaling pathways that allow DIPG cells to multiply uncontrollably.
-Induction of Apoptosis: The drug activates cell death mechanisms, which are typically suppressed in glioma cells.
-Reduced Angiogenesis: By blocking NK-1R, aprepitant reduces the ability of tumors to form new blood vessels, limiting their nutrient supply.
-Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Aprepitant helps control neurogenic inflammation, which is a hallmark of DIPG and contributes to its aggressiveness.
-Radiosensitization: The drug enhances the effectiveness of radiotherapy by making tumor cells more susceptible to radiation damage.
Combination Therapy Shows Synergistic Effects
The combination of radiotherapy and aprepitant has been found to be more effective than either treatment alone. Radiotherapy remains the standard of care for DIPG, but its effects are usually short-lived. When combined with aprepitant, researchers observed that tumor cells were more vulnerable to radiation, leading to improved tumor control.
Another crucial benefit of this combination therapy is its ability to reduce some of the harmful side effects of radiation. Radiotherapy often causes significant inflammation and damage to surrounding brain tissues, leading to neurological deterioration. However, aprepitant has been shown to mitigate these side effects, providing additional neuroprotection.
Potential for Future DIPG Treatments
While this study presents a significant breakthrough, further research is needed before aprepitant can be widely adopted in DIPG treatment. Clinical trials will be necessary to confirm its efficacy and safety in patients. If successful, this combination therapy could represent a major step forward in improving outcomes for children diagnosed with DIPG.
Conclusion
DIPG remains one of the most challenging pediatric cancers to treat, but the discovery that aprepitant can enhance the effects of radiotherapy offers new hope. By targeting the NK-1R pathway, this drug not only inhibits tumor growth but also helps protect the brain from radiation-induced damage. If future clinical trials validate these findings, this could lead to a significant advancement in DIPG therapy, potentially extending survival and improving the quality of life for affected children.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Cancers.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/3/520
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