Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
Head Neck. 2012 Apr;34(4):513-9. doi: 10.1002/hed.21759. Epub 2011 May 16.
The opioid growth factor (OGF)-OGF receptor (OGFr) axis is a constitutively expressed biologic pathway regulating cell proliferation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). This study investigated modulation of the OGF-OGFr system by (1) exogenous OGF, (2) upregulation of OGFr using imiquimod, or (3) intermittent opioid receptor blockade with a low dose of naltrexone on progression of established SCCHN.
Nude mice with visible human SCCHN SCC-1 tumors received (1) OGF or low-dose naltrexone either 1, 3, or 7 times/week or (2) imiquimod 1 or 3 times/week. Tumor growth and DNA synthesis were monitored.
OGF and low-dose naltrexone increased the latency from visible to measurable tumors up to 1.6-fold. OGF, low-dose naltrexone, and imiquimod treatment markedly reduced tumor volume and weight, and decreased DNA synthesis in tumors.
Modulation of the native OGF-OGFr regulatory network in SCCHN represents a novel nontoxic and highly efficacious approach for treatment of SCCHN.
阿片样生长因子（OGF）-阿片样生长因子受体（OGFr）轴是一个固有表达的生物途径，调节头颈部鳞状细胞癌（SCCHN）的细胞增殖。本研究通过（1）外源性 OGF、（2）咪喹莫特上调 OGFr 或（3）低剂量纳曲酮间歇性阿片受体阻断来研究 OGF-OGFr 系统的调节对已建立的 SCCHN 的进展。
裸鼠可见人 SCCHN SCC-1 肿瘤接受（1）OGF 或低剂量纳曲酮每周 1、3 或 7 次或（2）咪喹莫特每周 1 或 3 次。监测肿瘤生长和 DNA 合成。
OGF 和低剂量纳曲酮将从可见到可测量肿瘤的潜伏期提高了 1.6 倍。OGF、低剂量纳曲酮和咪喹莫特治疗明显减少了肿瘤体积和重量，并降低了肿瘤中的 DNA 合成。
调节 SCCHN 中的天然 OGF-OGFr 调节网络代表了一种治疗 SCCHN 的新型非毒性且高效的方法。
