PubMed ID: 19336429
Author(s): Kulkarni AD, van Ginkel PR, Darjatmoko SR, Lindstrom MJ, Albert DM. Use of combination therapy with cisplatin and calcitriol in the treatment of Y-79 human retinoblastoma xenograft model. Br J Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug;93(8):1105-8. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2008.152843. Epub 2009 Mar 30. PMID 19336429
Journal: The British Journal Of Ophthalmology, Volume 93, Issue 8, Aug 2009
BACKGROUND Retinoblastoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular neoplasm of childhood. The poor outcomes of patients with metastatic retinoblastoma have encouraged the search for new therapies. In the current study, the efficacy of combination therapy with calcitriol and cisplatin in athymic mice with subcutaneous Y-79 human retinoblastoma tumours was assessed.
METHODS 60 athymic mice were subcutaneously injected with human Y79 retinoblastoma cells. Animals were randomised into four groups: group 1, 50 microg of cisplatin; group 2, 0.05 microg of calcitriol; group 3, 0.05 microg of calcitriol and 50 microg of cisplatin; group 4, control. The cisplatin was administered once a week, and the calcitriol was given five times a week.
RESULTS There was a significant inhibition of tumour growth in animals treated with the combination therapy of calcitriol and cisplatin as compared with controls and cisplatin alone (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0041 respectively). In terms of toxicity, serum calcium levels were increased, but there was no mortality and minimal nephrotoxicity in any of the groups.
CONCLUSION The present study shows that cisplatin given in combination with calcitriol may be a viable multidrug therapy option in the treatment of high-risk retinoblastoma.