According to a story from EurekAlert!, researchers have found that the drug Diamox, which is used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions such as altitude sickness, glaucoma, epilepsy, and heart failure, could also be useful in treating the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma. The study that revealed this remarkable finding was publishing in early July in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
About Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer that is known for its rapid progression and resistance to treatment. The cancer can develop from normal brain cells or can evolve from slow growing astrocytoma. The direct cause is not well understood, but risk factors include certain genetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis, prior radiation therapy, being male, smoking, pesticides, working in rubber manufacture or petroleum refining, and infection by certain viruses, such as cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, and SV40. Glioblastoma symptoms include memory issues, changes to personality, seizures, nausea, headaches, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Treatment outcomes are generally poor for glioblastoma, as the tumor is highly resistant to most therapies and recurs easily. In addition, the blood-brain barrier make drug delivery an issue, and conventional therapies can damage the brain, which has only a limited ability to repair itself. Five year survival rates are poor at just three percent. To learn more about glioblastoma, click here.
About Diamox
Diamox has several positive attributes that make it an appealing treatment option for glioblastoma, as it can be produced cheaply, can be administered by the patient, and is quite safe, with only mild side effects. Dr. Bahktiar Yamini, who directed the study, uses it himself when he vacations in the Rocky Mountains.
Diamox and Glioblastoma
Diamox itself is not a powerful glioblastoma killer, but it enhances the effect of TMZ, the most commonly used chemotherapy drug used to treat the cancer. TMZ on its own has limited effectiveness; it damages tumor cell DNA in order to kill the cells, but glioblastoma can repair this damage in many patients, particularly in those patients with a high concentration of the BCL-3 protein. Tumors exploit this protein to protect themselves from TMZ.
Diamox is able to restore the capabilities of TMZ, even in patients with the BCL-3 protein. In animal models, a combination of the two drugs was curative in some cases and could prolong survival by 30 or 40 percent in others. Trials to test the combination in human subjects are currently in development.
