Cancer

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest Na+/K+ ATPase pump inhibitors could help treat glioma. In seven human glioma cell lines, the Na+/K+ ATPase pump inhibitor oleandrin decreased cell viability and migration compared with vehicle, and in one of the cell lines, oleandrin increased apoptosis. In a mouse model and a xenograft mouse model of glioma, oleandrin decreased tumor growth and increased survival. In the mouse model and two other xenograft mouse models of glioma, oleandrin decreased the numbers of tumor cells invading the brain parenchyma. In the mouse model, oleandrin plus the generic chemotherapy temozolomide increased survival compared with either agent alone. Next steps could include testing other Na+/K+ ATPase pump inhibitors in models of glioma.

Phoenix Biotechnology Inc. has oleandrin (PBI-05204) in Phase I testing to treat solid tumors. ...