Zacharski Leo R, Lee Agnes Yy
Hamilton Health Sciences Henderson Hospital, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON L8V1C3, Canada.
Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2008 Jul;17(7):1029-37. doi: 10.1517/13543784.17.7.1029.
Although the pathophysiological mechanisms remain elusive, accumulating experimental and clinical data are showing that anticoagulants, particularly low molecular weight heparin, may have an important role as anticancer agents. Although this concept was first introduced decades ago, advancement in research has been hampered by scepticism and disinterest. The difficulty with understanding and defining the mechanisms of action is reflective of the diverse activity and pharmacological profile of these biological compounds, and the limitations of experimental techniques available to explore the interactions between the coagulation cascade and intracellular pathways that govern cell growth and differentiation.
This review will address and summarize some of the ongoing basic and clinical research on heparin as an anticancer therapeutic.
A literature review using the keys words 'heparin', 'low molecular weight heparin', 'cancer survival' and 'neoplasm' was performed. Meeting proceedings from recent conferences on thrombosis and cancer were handsearched for relevant clinical studies.
The investigation of anticoagulants as anticancer agents is now an innovative and rapidly growing field. Greater understanding of the interaction between coagulation and cancer will lead to improved patient care.
尽管病理生理机制仍不明确，但越来越多的实验和临床数据表明，抗凝剂，尤其是低分子量肝素，可能作为抗癌药物发挥重要作用。尽管这一概念在几十年前就已首次提出，但研究进展一直受到怀疑和冷漠态度的阻碍。理解和定义其作用机制存在困难，这反映出这些生物化合物具有多样的活性和药理学特性，以及用于探索凝血级联反应与控制细胞生长和分化的细胞内途径之间相互作用的现有实验技术存在局限性。
本综述将阐述并总结目前关于肝素作为抗癌治疗药物的一些基础和临床研究。
采用关键词“肝素”“低分子量肝素”“癌症生存”和“肿瘤”进行文献综述。人工检索近期血栓形成与癌症会议的会议记录以查找相关临床研究。
将抗凝剂作为抗癌药物进行研究目前是一个创新且发展迅速的领域。更深入地了解凝血与癌症之间的相互作用将改善患者护理。
