Pleiotrophin Key to Accelerating Blood System Recovery

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California, have discovered how a particular protein in the bone marrow prompts stem cells to repair the

 

 

human blood system after the administration of chemotherapy and radiation. In the study, the researchers identified a new protein called pleiotrophin that attaches to hematopoetic stem cells (HSCs). This process thereby activates the blood stem cells to begin recovery of the blood system.

For the study, the researchers injected mice with pleiotrophin after a dose of radiation that would normally be lethal. Two-thirds of the mice survived the lethal radiation dose after their HSCs and blood system recovered more rapidly due to the administration of pleiotrophin. In addition, by inhibiting pleiotrophin from binding to HSCs, blood stem cells had no advantage in recovery, suggesting that pleiotrophin is essential in accelerating the recovery of the blood system.

The team of researchers is currently conducting a phase 1 clinical study to test pleiotrophin in patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. They hope their results will improve outcomes for patients undergoing treatments toxic to the blood system.