The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 increases treatment efficiency of paclitaxel against hepatoblastoma
2011

ABT-737 Enhances Paclitaxel Treatment for Hepatoblastoma

Sample size: 15 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lieber Justus, Eicher Carmen, Wenz Julia, Kirchner Bettina, Warmann Steven W, Fuchs Jörg, Armeanu-Ebinger Sorin

Primary Institution: Department of Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany

Hypothesis

Can the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 improve the effectiveness of paclitaxel in treating hepatoblastoma?

Conclusion

The combination of ABT-737 and paclitaxel significantly reduces tumor volume in hepatoblastoma models compared to paclitaxel alone.

Supporting Evidence

  • ABT-737 reduced viability in hepatoblastoma cell cultures at concentrations above 1 μM.
  • Combination treatment allowed for a tenfold reduction in paclitaxel dosage while maintaining efficacy.
  • Significantly lower relative tumor volumes were observed in the combination treatment group compared to controls.

Takeaway

Using ABT-737 with paclitaxel helps shrink liver tumors in kids with a type of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma.

Methodology

The study involved treating hepatoblastoma cell lines and xenografts with paclitaxel, ABT-737, and their combination, followed by viability assays and tumor volume measurements.

Potential Biases

There may be bias in the selection of treatment dosages and the animal model used.

Limitations

The study was limited by the small sample size and the potential for toxicity in the combination treatment.

Participant Demographics

The study used NOD/LtSz-scid IL2Rγnull mice for xenotransplantation.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-11-362

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