Kurzfassung

In the past, we were able to show an improvement of oxygenation in tumours of anaemic animals by treatment with erythropoietin (EPO). This finding is of significance since tumour hypoxia appears to be a major cause of failure in oxygen-dependent tumour treatments and may be responsible for the development of an aggressive phenotype. The use of erythropoietin to alleviate anemia in cancer patients has caused some concern due to the identification of erythropoietin-receptor expression in tumour...In the past, we were able to show an improvement of oxygenation in tumours of anaemic animals by treatment with erythropoietin (EPO). This finding is of significance since tumour hypoxia appears to be a major cause of failure in oxygen-dependent tumour treatments and may be responsible for the development of an aggressive phenotype. The use of erythropoietin to alleviate anemia in cancer patients has caused some concern due to the identification of erythropoietin-receptor expression in tumour cells - as documented in a number of human and experimental tumour studies - and has prompted the question of whether exogenously applied erythropoietin and related substances are capable of promoting tumor growth. Using a tumour model shown to express the erythropoietin receptor, tumor growth is being assessed during exogenous application of erythropoietin. In the same tumours, measurements of cell proliferation, vascular density, necrosis and apoptosis are being made. The results obtained should provide insight into whether the erythropoietin receptor is capable of influencing tumour growth or whether it is redundant in this context.

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