Researchers at Michigan State University have identified an already approved medication that shows promise in mitigating the side effects associated with cisplatin, a cornerstone chemotherapy drug used across several cancer types. The findings, published in a peer reviewed clinical journal, open the door to a potential improvement in patient quality of life during treatment.
Since its introduction by scientists at the University of Michigan in 1965, cisplatin has stood as a benchmark in cancer therapy. It is employed to treat cancers of the testicles, ovaries, bladder, lungs, stomach, and head and neck. While cisplatin remains highly effective at killing cancer cells, its treatment can produce challenging side effects, including nerve pain and kidney stress, which can force patients to pause or stop therapy. At present, no approved medications fully prevent these adverse effects without diminishing the drug’s cancer-fighting power.
The Michigan State team reports that istradiphylline, a drug already approved for managing Parkinson’s disease, may lessen the side effects of cisplatin while preserving its effectiveness against cancer cells. This potential interaction could allow patients to maintain cisplatin dosing with fewer interruptions due to tolerability concerns.
Early observations suggest that istradiphylline may intervene in the cancer cells’ high release of adenosine following cisplatin-induced destruction, a biochemical pathway linked to the cellular response to therapy. The precise mechanisms remain under investigation, but the initial data point toward a protective effect on normal tissues without dampening cisplatin’s ability to target malignant cells.
While the safety of istradiphylline in humans is established, current studies exploring its capacity to counteract cisplatin side effects have so far been conducted in animal models. Ongoing and future human clinical trials are planned to confirm whether this combination can be safely used in patients, with the ultimate goal of enabling uninterrupted cisplatin treatment without compromising efficacy. The research team emphasizes carefully monitored trials to assess both tolerability and anti-cancer activity, with patient well-being as a central priority.