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]

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