Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) has long been recognized as the major hematopoietic cytokine regulating normal erythropoiesis. Moreover, there is a growing interest in the non-erythropoietic, tissue-protective effects of EPO. Because of its potential to correct anemia, EPO has been increasingly prescribed to cancer patients. However, although recombinant human Epo (rHuEPO) significantly reduces the risk for red blood cell transfusions in cancer patients, recent clinical studies have reported decreased survival and disease control following rHuEPO treatment in patients with different cancer types. The issue of EPOR expression in tumor cells is critical in this respect. The expression of EPOR in tumor cells raises the possibility that exogenous rHuEPO may directly influence tumor growth or sensitivity to chemo-radiation therapy. In addition, EPOR expression in endothelial cells suggests what potential effects EPO may have on tumor capillaries, such as the stimulation of angiogenesis. However, as experimental studies reveal, the overall direct effect of EPO-EPOR signaling on cancer progression and therapy is not a straightforward one. The current paper provides an update on the biology of EPO, and discusses its utility in the treatment of cancer patients.
Keywords: Erythropoietin, hypoxia, anemia, cancer
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: Erythropoietin in Cancer: An Update
Volume: 8 Issue: 6
Author(s): Jozsef Tovari, Robert Pirker, Jozsef Timar, Gyula Ostoros, Gabor Kovacs and Balazs Dome
Affiliation:
Keywords: Erythropoietin, hypoxia, anemia, cancer
Abstract: Erythropoietin (EPO) has long been recognized as the major hematopoietic cytokine regulating normal erythropoiesis. Moreover, there is a growing interest in the non-erythropoietic, tissue-protective effects of EPO. Because of its potential to correct anemia, EPO has been increasingly prescribed to cancer patients. However, although recombinant human Epo (rHuEPO) significantly reduces the risk for red blood cell transfusions in cancer patients, recent clinical studies have reported decreased survival and disease control following rHuEPO treatment in patients with different cancer types. The issue of EPOR expression in tumor cells is critical in this respect. The expression of EPOR in tumor cells raises the possibility that exogenous rHuEPO may directly influence tumor growth or sensitivity to chemo-radiation therapy. In addition, EPOR expression in endothelial cells suggests what potential effects EPO may have on tumor capillaries, such as the stimulation of angiogenesis. However, as experimental studies reveal, the overall direct effect of EPO-EPOR signaling on cancer progression and therapy is not a straightforward one. The current paper provides an update on the biology of EPO, and discusses its utility in the treatment of cancer patients.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tovari Jozsef, Pirker Robert, Timar Jozsef, Ostoros Gyula, Kovacs Gabor and Dome Balazs, Erythropoietin in Cancer: An Update, Current Molecular Medicine 2008; 8 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652408785747979
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652408785747979 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
LPA and its Analogs-Attractive Tools for Elucidation of LPA Biology and Drug Development
Current Medicinal Chemistry Biodistribution of LV-TSTA Transduced Rat Bone Marrow Cells Used for “Ex-vivo” Regional Gene Therapy for Bone Repair
Current Gene Therapy Gene Therapy and Targeted Toxins for Glioma
Current Gene Therapy Targeted Inhibition of AKT in Pancreatic Cancer
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Patents on Therapeutic and Cosmetic Applications of Bioactives of Crocus Sativus L. and their Production through Synthetic Biology Methods: A Review
Recent Patents on Biotechnology CD44 and EpCAM: Cancer-Initiating Cell Markers
Current Molecular Medicine Exploring Pharmacological Significance of Chalcone Scaffold: A Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Utilization of Ribozymes as Antiviral Agents
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Overexpression of Nemo-like Kinase Promotes the Proliferation and Invasion of Lung Cancer Cells and Indicates Poor Prognosis
Current Cancer Drug Targets Screening Novel SAHA Derivatives as Anti-lung Carcinoma Agents: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, Docking Studies and Further Mechanism Research between Apoptosis and Autophagyetween Apoptosis and Autophagy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Bee Venom: Its Potential Use in Alternative Medicine
Anti-Infective Agents Immunobiology of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections of the Fetus and Newborn
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Disulfiram's Anticancer Activity: Evidence and Mechanisms
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Microarray Profiling Analysis Uncovers Common Molecular Mechanisms of Rubella Virus, Human Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infections in ECV304 Cells
Current Molecular Medicine DNA Methylation: A Possible Target for Current and Future Studies on Cancer?
Epigenetic Diagnosis & Therapy (Discontinued) Sanguinarine: A Double-Edged Sword of Anticancer and Carcinogenesis and Its Future Application Prospect
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase in Materno-Fetal Interaction
Current Drug Metabolism Treatment with Radix Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Significantly Decreases the Expression of E6 and L1, and Increases the Expression of p53 and Rb in HPV18-infected Human Foreskin Keratinocytes
Current Molecular Medicine Brain Tumor Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Radiotherapy Treatment
Current Medical Imaging Conventional and Gene Therapy Strategies for the Treatment of Brain Tumors
Current Medicinal Chemistry