1: Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007 Feb;16(2):209-18. Use of botulinum toxins in cancer therapy. Ansiaux R, Gallez B. Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Unit, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Avenue Mounier 73.40, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. A recent study has demonstrated for the first time that botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) briefly opens tumour vessels, allowing more effective destruction of cancer cells by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review discusses the implications of BoNTs in cancer treatment. After briefly reviewing the different BoNT serotypes, their pharmacological activities and their general use in medicine, the authors focus on their possible application in cancer and describe how BoNTs have been used so far to treat spasm related to tumour or to therapies. By dissecting the mechanisms of action leading to a potentiation of anticancer therapy, it can be seen that BoNTs act by an effect on the tumour microenvironment rather than by a direct cytotoxic effect on tumour cells. PMID: 17243940 [PubMed - in process] Related Links Cross reaction of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins A and B and the boosting effect of botulinum neurotoxins A and B on a primary anti-tetanus antibody response. [Immunol Invest. 2002] PMID:12472183 Different types of botulinum toxin in humans. [Mov Disord. 2004] PMID:15027055 Botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and C do not affect motor units survival in humans: an electrophysiological study by motor units counting. [Clin Neurophysiol. 2002] PMID:12140005 Comparison of extracellular and intracellular potency of botulinum neurotoxins. [Infect Immun. 2006] PMID:16988237 Uptake of botulinum neurotoxin into cultured neurons. [Biochemistry. 2004] PMID:14717608