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Kontoghiorghes GJ. Drug Selection and Posology, Optimal Therapies and Risk/Benefit Assessment in Medicine: The Paradigm of Iron-Chelating Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16749. [PMID: 38069073 PMCID: PMC10706143 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The design of clinical protocols and the selection of drugs with appropriate posology are critical parameters for therapeutic outcomes. Optimal therapeutic protocols could ideally be designed in all diseases including for millions of patients affected by excess iron deposition (EID) toxicity based on personalised medicine parameters, as well as many variations and limitations. EID is an adverse prognostic factor for all diseases and especially for millions of chronically red-blood-cell-transfused patients. Differences in iron chelation therapy posology cause disappointing results in neurodegenerative diseases at low doses, but lifesaving outcomes in thalassemia major (TM) when using higher doses. In particular, the transformation of TM from a fatal to a chronic disease has been achieved using effective doses of oral deferiprone (L1), which improved compliance and cleared excess toxic iron from the heart associated with increased mortality in TM. Furthermore, effective L1 and L1/deferoxamine combination posology resulted in the complete elimination of EID and the maintenance of normal iron store levels in TM. The selection of effective chelation protocols has been monitored by MRI T2* diagnosis for EID levels in different organs. Millions of other iron-loaded patients with sickle cell anemia, myelodysplasia and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation, or non-iron-loaded categories with EID in different organs could also benefit from such chelation therapy advances. Drawbacks of chelation therapy include drug toxicity in some patients and also the wide use of suboptimal chelation protocols, resulting in ineffective therapies. Drug metabolic effects, and interactions with other metals, drugs and dietary molecules also affected iron chelation therapy. Drug selection and the identification of effective or optimal dose protocols are essential for positive therapeutic outcomes in the use of chelating drugs in TM and other iron-loaded and non-iron-loaded conditions, as well as general iron toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- George J Kontoghiorghes
- Postgraduate Research Institute of Science, Technology, Environment and Medicine, Limassol 3021, Cyprus
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Szymonik J, Wala K, Górnicki T, Saczko J, Pencakowski B, Kulbacka J. The Impact of Iron Chelators on the Biology of Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010089. [PMID: 35008527 PMCID: PMC8745085 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neoplastic diseases are still a major medical challenge, requiring a constant search for new therapeutic options. A serious problem of many cancers is resistance to anticancer drugs and disease progression in metastases or local recurrence. These characteristics of cancer cells may be related to the specific properties of cancer stem cells (CSC). CSCs are involved in inhibiting cells’ maturation, which is essential for maintaining their self-renewal capacity and pluripotency. They show increased expression of transcription factor proteins, which were defined as stemness-related markers. This group of proteins includes OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, Nanog, and SALL4. It has been noticed that the metabolism of cancer cells is changed, and the demand for iron is significantly increased. Iron chelators have been proven to have antitumor activity and influence the expression of stemness-related markers, thus reducing chemoresistance and the risk of tumor cell progression. This prompts further investigation of these agents as promising anticancer novel drugs. The article presents the characteristics of stemness markers and their influence on the development and course of neoplastic disease. Available iron chelators were also described, and their effects on cancer cells and expression of stemness-related markers were analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Szymonik
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (T.G.)
| | - Kamila Wala
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (T.G.)
| | - Tomasz Górnicki
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (T.G.)
| | - Jolanta Saczko
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Bartosz Pencakowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-71-784-06-88
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Marie EF. Moxibustion with deferasirox results in safe, accelerated, and sustained cardiac iron chelation for a young Diamond Blackfan Anemia patient: An integrative case report. Explore (NY) 2020; 17:239-246. [PMID: 32622815 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare blood disorder of bone marrow failure typically identified in the first year of life. Due to treatment limitations, nearly all DBA patients are reliant upon chronic red cell infusion for some period of their lives. Repeat blood transfusion invariably leads to iron overload, which creates significant and life-threatening side effects. In this case report, a female child of 2 years and 8 months with DBA was diagnosed via T2* MRI imaging with potentially emergent levels of cardiac iron overload as a result of chronic red cell infusion. According to Chinese, Japanese, and integrative medicine principles, moxibustion was applied externally in conjunction with the prescribed oral chelation agent, deferasirox (DFX), over a period of six months. Analysis of repeat imaging at six months showed complete removal of cardiac iron and a one-third decrease in hepatic iron. In addition, there was no evidence of known risks to high-dose chelation, including renal, aural, or ocular damage. Follow-up examination two years after initial imaging showed no evidence of cardiac iron deposition with hepatic iron levels below minimum levels recommended for chelation despite the medical necessity of continued red cell infusion. This case study suggests that an integrative medical approach combining DFX with moxibustion may safely accelerate and sustain iron chelation for transfusion-dependent DBA patients. Recommendations for a successful approach to integrative iron chelation are provided in the case discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Fayina Marie
- Chiyu Center, 201 Coffman St., PO Box 605, Longmont, Colorado 80501, United States; Kansas City VA Medical Center, 4801 Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64128, United States; 933 McGee St., Unit 326, Kansas City, MO 64106, United States.
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Snel GJH, van den Boomen M, Hernandez LM, Nguyen CT, Sosnovik DE, Velthuis BK, Slart RHJA, Borra RJH, Prakken NHJ. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance native T 2 and T 2* quantitative values for cardiomyopathies and heart transplantations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2020; 22:34. [PMID: 32393281 PMCID: PMC7212597 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-020-00627-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T2 and T2* mapping is currently limited as ranges for healthy and cardiac diseases are poorly defined. In this meta-analysis we aimed to determine the weighted mean of T2 and T2* mapping values in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), heart transplantation, non-ischemic cardiomyopathies (NICM) and hypertension, and the standardized mean difference (SMD) of each population with healthy controls. Additionally, the variation of mapping outcomes between studies was investigated. METHODS The PRISMA guidelines were followed after literature searches on PubMed and Embase. Studies reporting CMR T2 or T2* values measured in patients were included. The SMD was calculated using a random effects model and a meta-regression analysis was performed for populations with sufficient published data. RESULTS One hundred fifty-four studies, including 13,804 patient and 4392 control measurements, were included. T2 values were higher in patients with MI, heart transplantation, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and myocarditis (SMD of 2.17, 1.05, 0.87, 1.39, 1.62, 1.95, 1.90 and 1.33, respectively, P < 0.01) compared with controls. T2 values in iron overload patients (SMD = - 0.54, P = 0.30) and Anderson-Fabry disease patients (SMD = 0.52, P = 0.17) did both not differ from controls. T2* values were lower in patients with MI and iron overload (SMD of - 1.99 and - 2.39, respectively, P < 0.01) compared with controls. T2* values in HCM patients (SMD = - 0.61, P = 0.22), DCM patients (SMD = - 0.54, P = 0.06) and hypertension patients (SMD = - 1.46, P = 0.10) did not differ from controls. Multiple CMR acquisition and patient demographic factors were assessed as significant covariates, thereby influencing the mapping outcomes and causing variation between studies. CONCLUSIONS The clinical utility of T2 and T2* mapping to distinguish affected myocardium in patients with cardiomyopathies or heart transplantation from healthy myocardium seemed to be confirmed based on this meta-analysis. Nevertheless, variation of mapping values between studies complicates comparison with external values and therefore require local healthy reference values to clinically interpret quantitative values. Furthermore, disease differentiation seems limited, since changes in T2 and T2* values of most cardiomyopathies are similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J H Snel
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - M van den Boomen
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - L M Hernandez
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - C T Nguyen
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - D E Sosnovik
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard-MIT, 7 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - B K Velthuis
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R H J A Slart
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Photonic Imaging, University of Twente, Dienstweg 1, 7522 ND, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - R J H Borra
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - N H J Prakken
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Lima TGD, Benevides FLN, Esmeraldo Filho FL, Farias IS, Dourado DXC, Fontenele EGP, Moraes MEAD, Quidute ARP. Treatment of iron overload syndrome: a general review. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2019; 65:1216-1222. [DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.65.9.1216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Iron overload is a broad syndrome with a large spectrum of causative etiologies that lead to iron deposition. When iron exceeds defenses, it causes oxidative damage and tissular disfunction. Treatment may prevent organ dysfunction, leading to greater life expectancy. METHODS Literature from the last five years was reviewed through the use of the PubMed database in search of treatment strategies. DISCUSSION Different pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies are available for the treatment of iron overload and must be used according to etiology and patient compliance. Therapeutic phlebotomy is the basis for the treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis. Transfusional overload patients and those who cannot tolerate phlebotomy need iron chelators. CONCLUSION Advances in the understanding of iron overload have lead to great advances in therapies and new pharmacological targets. Research has lead to better compliance with the use of oral chelators and less toxic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeu Gonçalves de Lima
- Universidade de Fortaleza, Brasil; UFC, Brasil; Hospital Geral César Cals de Oliveira, Brasil
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Nemtsas P, Arnaoutoglou M, Perifanis V, Koutsouraki E, Spanos G, Arnaoutoglou N, Chalkia P, Pantelidou D, Orologas A. Polyneuropathy and myopathy in beta-thalassemia major patients. Ann Hematol 2018; 97:899-904. [PMID: 29427184 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-018-3251-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The thalassemias are the most common single gene disorder in the world. Nowadays, the average life expectancy of patients in developed countries has increased significantly, while, there was an increase of complications. We aimed to investigate peripheral neuropathy and myopathy in this patient group using a neurophysiological study. We performed nerve conduction studies and electromyography of upper and lower extremities on 36 beta-thalassemia major (β-thal) patients. The electrophysiological findings were correlated with demographic data and laboratory parameters of the disease. Patients with β-thal present polyneuropathy or myopathy at (50%). Polyneuropathy was detected in (38.9%) and myopathy in (27.8%), while polyneuropathy and myopathy were present at (16.7%) with an overlap of the diseases in 1/3 of the patients. There was not a statistically significant correlation of polyneuropathy and myopathy with age, sex, splenectomy, nor with respect to laboratory parameters, hemoglobin, and ferritin. However, there was a statistically significant correlation of polyneuropathy and myopathy with iron overload, as recorded by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart and the liver. Our findings suggest that iron overload plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polyneuropathy and myopathy in β-thal patients, and performing heart and liver MRI for the prediction of such lesions in an annual basis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Nemtsas
- First Department of Neurology, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, St.Kiriakidis 1, P.O, 546 36, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - M Arnaoutoglou
- First Department of Neurology, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, St.Kiriakidis 1, P.O, 546 36, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - V Perifanis
- First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - E Koutsouraki
- First Department of Neurology, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, St.Kiriakidis 1, P.O, 546 36, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - G Spanos
- Tomographia Diagnostic Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - N Arnaoutoglou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - P Chalkia
- Thalassemia Unit, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - D Pantelidou
- Thalassemia Unit, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - A Orologas
- First Department of Neurology, University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, St.Kiriakidis 1, P.O, 546 36, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Di Maggio R, Maggio A. The new era of chelation treatments: effectiveness and safety of 10 different regimens for controlling iron overloading in thalassaemia major. Br J Haematol 2017; 178:676-688. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Di Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino; AOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello; Palermo Italy
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Campus of Haematology Franco and Piera Cutino; AOR Villa Sofia-V. Cervello; Palermo Italy
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Killick SB. Iron chelation therapy in low risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Br J Haematol 2017; 177:375-387. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sally B. Killick
- Department of Haematology; Royal Bournemouth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth UK
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Kontoghiorghe CN, Kontoghiorghes GJ. Efficacy and safety of iron-chelation therapy with deferoxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox for the treatment of iron-loaded patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia syndromes. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2016; 10:465-81. [PMID: 26893541 PMCID: PMC4745840 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s79458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence rate of thalassemia, which is endemic in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, exceeds 100,000 live births per year. There are many genetic variants in thalassemia with different pathological severity, ranging from a mild and asymptomatic anemia to life-threatening clinical effects, requiring lifelong treatment, such as regular transfusions in thalassemia major (TM). Some of the thalassemias are non-transfusion-dependent, including many thalassemia intermedia (TI) variants, where iron overload is caused by chronic increase in iron absorption due to ineffective erythropoiesis. Many TI patients receive occasional transfusions. The rate of iron overloading in TI is much slower in comparison to TM patients. Iron toxicity in TI is usually manifested by the age of 30-40 years, and in TM by the age of 10 years. Subcutaneous deferoxamine (DFO), oral deferiprone (L1), and DFO-L1 combinations have been effectively used for more than 20 years for the treatment of iron overload in TM and TI patients, causing a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. Selected protocols using DFO, L1, and their combination can be designed for personalized chelation therapy in TI, which can effectively and safely remove all the excess toxic iron and prevent cardiac, liver, and other organ damage. Both L1 and DF could also prevent iron absorption. The new oral chelator deferasirox (DFX) increases iron excretion and decreases liver iron in TM and TI. There are drawbacks in the use of DFX in TI, such as limitations related to dose, toxicity, and cost, iron load of the patients, and ineffective removal of excess iron from the heart. Furthermore, DFX appears to increase iron and other toxic metal absorption. Future treatments of TI and related iron-loading conditions could involve the use of the iron-chelating drugs and other drug combinations not only for increasing iron excretion but also for preventing iron absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George J Kontoghiorghes
- Postgraduate Research Institute of Science, Technology, Environment and Medicine, Limassol, Cyprus
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