Clinical Biology and Potential Use of Thrombopoietin
The discovery of platelet growth factors raised expectations that an effective method for abrogating thrombocytopenia would soon be available in the clinic. The cytokines initially described were pleiotropic in nature, and stimulation of platelet production was generally modest. However, one of thes...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2000-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/681394 |
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| Summary: | The discovery
of platelet growth factors raised expectations that an effective
method for abrogating thrombocytopenia would soon be available
in the clinic. The cytokines initially described were pleiotropic in
nature, and stimulation of platelet production was generally modest.
However, one of these agents, interleukin-11, was successfully
shown to reduce the incidence of severe thrombocytopenia in patients
receiving dose-intensive chemotherapy, and has now received
approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration
for this purpose. Initial clinical trials of thrombopoietin,
the central regulator of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis,
and its analogues showed these agents to be the most potent
stimulators of thrombopoiesis and to be associated with few adverse
effects. They have also been shown to enhance platelet recovery
after chemotherapy, but early results from trials investigating
their ability to prevent severe thrombocytopenia associated
with the treatment of leukemia and bone marrow transplantation
have been disappointing. In addition, subcutaneous administration
of one of these agents, megakaryocyte growth and development
factor, has been shown to induce the formation of antibodies
that neutralize native thrombopoietin and cause thrombocytopenia.
Platelet growth factors remain promising therapeutic
agents; however, there are a number of obstacles to overcome before
they find general use in the clinic. |
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| ISSN: | 0835-7900 |