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13/06/2005
Anti-cancer drug could help prevent premature births
An anti-cancer drug could help prevent thousands of premature births that occur each year, according to a scientific study.
A research team at the Unviersity of Newcastle upon Tyne, found that Trichostatin A (TSA) – which is used to treat a variety of cancers, including those in the breast, bowel and lung – can control levels of a hormone receptor protein in the womb, which is linked with giving birth.
The study, which was funded by the charity Action Medical Research and is published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, examined the effect that TSA had on the levels of receptors on human smooth muscle cells of the womb or uterus, that are affected by the pregnancy hormone, Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).
The hormone activates the CG/LH receptors on the muscle cells of the womb to produce a muscle relaxant, which prevents contractions and keeps the uterus in a relaxed state – if there are decreases in hCG receptor levels, this may lead to contractions in the womb and the risk of in some cases premature labour.
Women whose babies are born prematurely experience an acute drop in the numbers of the CG/LH receptors and are therefore less responsive to the hCG hormone. However, the tests conducted by the University of Newcastle team found that TSA is able to increase numbers of the CG/LH receptors in uterine smooth muscle cells.
The team are seeking funding for clincal trials to discover whether TSA will work in women who are due to give birth prematurely, or those who are at high risk of having a premature baby.
Research team leader, Dr Nick Europe-Finner, from Newcastle University’s School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, said: “It’s frustrating for doctors and mother alike that there is still no effective treatment, despite the fact that many premature babies die or have physical or mental conditions that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
“Our laboratory tests show that the drug TSA is able to fool uterine muscle cells and suggest it could be a potential new therapeutic agent in preventing premature birth from occuring.”
Mr Andrew Loughney, consultatnt obstetrician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle Upon Tyne said: “This is a very exciting area of research because it may lead to the development of new, more effective ways of preventing premature birth. There are two challenges ahead. The first will be to see whether the drug has a clear clinical effect in reducing contractions in the womb. The second will be to ensure that the new treatment has no adverse effects for the mother or the baby.”
Around 60,000 pregnancies in the UK each year end with premature births of less than 37 weeks gestation – the highest rate in Western Europe.
(KMcA/SP)
A research team at the Unviersity of Newcastle upon Tyne, found that Trichostatin A (TSA) – which is used to treat a variety of cancers, including those in the breast, bowel and lung – can control levels of a hormone receptor protein in the womb, which is linked with giving birth.
The study, which was funded by the charity Action Medical Research and is published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, examined the effect that TSA had on the levels of receptors on human smooth muscle cells of the womb or uterus, that are affected by the pregnancy hormone, Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).
The hormone activates the CG/LH receptors on the muscle cells of the womb to produce a muscle relaxant, which prevents contractions and keeps the uterus in a relaxed state – if there are decreases in hCG receptor levels, this may lead to contractions in the womb and the risk of in some cases premature labour.
Women whose babies are born prematurely experience an acute drop in the numbers of the CG/LH receptors and are therefore less responsive to the hCG hormone. However, the tests conducted by the University of Newcastle team found that TSA is able to increase numbers of the CG/LH receptors in uterine smooth muscle cells.
The team are seeking funding for clincal trials to discover whether TSA will work in women who are due to give birth prematurely, or those who are at high risk of having a premature baby.
Research team leader, Dr Nick Europe-Finner, from Newcastle University’s School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, said: “It’s frustrating for doctors and mother alike that there is still no effective treatment, despite the fact that many premature babies die or have physical or mental conditions that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
“Our laboratory tests show that the drug TSA is able to fool uterine muscle cells and suggest it could be a potential new therapeutic agent in preventing premature birth from occuring.”
Mr Andrew Loughney, consultatnt obstetrician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle Upon Tyne said: “This is a very exciting area of research because it may lead to the development of new, more effective ways of preventing premature birth. There are two challenges ahead. The first will be to see whether the drug has a clear clinical effect in reducing contractions in the womb. The second will be to ensure that the new treatment has no adverse effects for the mother or the baby.”
Around 60,000 pregnancies in the UK each year end with premature births of less than 37 weeks gestation – the highest rate in Western Europe.
(KMcA/SP)
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