levetiracetam and Neoplasms

High expression of some anticancer biomarkers such as telomerase and B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), microRNA-21(miRNA-21), and low expression FAS ligand (FASLG) are reported in many cancers. Some anticancer drugs such as Levetiracetam(Lev) produce their effects via the change of expression of these biomarkers. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of a new compound, Platinum Levetiracetam(Pt-Lev), gene expression of mentioned biomarkers on hepatocyte G2 (HepG2) cells compared to Lev.. In this study, Human Dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) were used as the negative control group (group A) HepG2 cells were divided into three groups: untreated cancer cells as positive group (group B), groups C and D were treated with, Lev and Pt-Lev, respectively. After evaluating lethal concentration 50% (LC. For the first time, it was indicated that Pt-Lev has anticancer effects by inhibiting telomerase and Bcl-2 and miRNA-21 and increasing FASLG gene expression and its effects were more than Lev. It effectively exerted its anticancer effects by extending apoptosis on HepG2 cells.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Biomarkers, Tumor; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Levetiracetam; MicroRNAs; Neoplasms; Platinum; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Telomerase

Genomics is a disruptive technology, having revealed that cancers are tremendously complex and differ from patient to patient. Therefore, conventional treatment approaches fit poorly with genomic reality. Furthermore, it is likely that this type of complexity will also be observed in other illnesses. Precision medicine has been posited as a way to better target disease-related aberrations, but developing drugs and tailoring therapy to each patient's complicated problem is a major challenge. One solution would be to match patients to existing compounds based on in silico modeling. However, optimization of complex therapy will eventually require designing compounds for patients using computer modeling and just-in-time production, perhaps achievable in the future by three-dimensional (3D) printing. Indeed, 3D printing is potentially transformative by virtue of its ability to rapidly generate almost limitless numbers of objects that previously required manufacturing facilities. Companies are already endeavoring to develop affordable 3D printers for home use. An attractive, but as yet scantily explored, application is to place chemical design and production under digital control. This could be accomplished by utilizing a 3D printer to initiate chemical reactions, and print the reagents and/or the final compounds directly. Of interest, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a 3D printed drug-levetiracetam-indicated for seizures. Further, it is now increasingly clear that biologic materials-tissues, and eventually organs-can also be "printed." In the near future, it is plausible that high-throughput computing may be deployed to design customized drugs, which will reshape medicine.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Antineoplastic Agents; Click Chemistry; Computer Simulation; Genomics; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Levetiracetam; Neoplasms; Piracetam; Precision Medicine; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Children with brain tumors and other cancers can suffer from seizures. Unfortunately, most antiepileptic therapies are metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) system. Levetiracetam, a newer anticonvulsant, does not undergo CYP metabolism and does not alter the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapy, antiemetics, and corticosteroids, which are metabolized by the liver. We studied 23 patients with cancer and seizures treated with levetiracetam. Over 95% of patients had fewer seizures, with 65.2% becoming seizure free; only one patient experienced an adverse reaction. Levetiracetam is effective and well tolerated in children with brain tumors and other cancers, who are often on multiple enzyme-inducing drugs.

Topics: Adolescent; Anticonvulsants; Brain Neoplasms; Child; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Male; Neoplasms; Piracetam; Retrospective Studies; Seizures; Treatment Outcome

To report 2 cases of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) following infusion of ifosfamide.. Two patients who received ifosfamide-containing chemotherapy developed NCSE. One woman received ifosfamide 1000 mg/m2 (1 h infusion on days 1-5); confusion, lethargy, and speech deterioration developed on day 3. The second patient developed similar symptoms on day 3 of treatment with 2500 mg/m2. Both patients responded to intravenous administration of diazepam 10 mg and were given levetiracetam as maintenance therapy.. The severity and presentation of central nervous system toxicity due to ifosfamide varies greatly and involves a spectrum ranging from subclinical electroencephalogram changes to coma. NCSE, an epileptic disorder in which typical convulsive activity is absent, has previously been reported in only 4 patients receiving ifosfamide. Levetiracetam may be used for maintenance antiepileptic therapy after diazepam administration.. Among the many presentations of ifosfamide neurotoxicity, clinicians should consider NCSE as a possible explanation for changes in consciousness in a patient receiving this agent. An objective causality assessment by use of the Naranjo probability scale revealed that NCSE due to ifosfamide was probable.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Diazepam; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Levetiracetam; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Piracetam; Status Epilepticus

Certain types of pain associated with cancer may be difficult to treat with standard therapies, often resulting in intractable pain and suffering for the patient. The use of an opioid as analgesic monotherapy can lead to poorly controlled pain as well as multiple side effects. Non-opioid adjunctive analgesics, such as antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) often improve both pain control, and side effect prevalence. Levetiracetam is an AED with unique mechanisms of action that may have analgesic properties in various pain syndromes. Seven patients with neoplasms involving neural structures (four invading the brachial plexus, and three the lumbosacral plexus) had severe pain of 8 to 9 out of 10 on a visual analog scale (VAS), despite the use of parenteral opioids and various adjunctive therapies. These patients were treated with oral levetiracetam titrated over days to two weeks, depending on the location of pain, drug response, and tolerance to tapering of opioid analgesics. Opioid and adjunctive analgesic use and VAS scores were recorded periodically. The maximum levetiracetam dose ranged from 500 mg to 1500 mg BID. All patients experienced pain control improvement after the addition of levetiracetam, with VAS scores decreasing from 8-9 out of 10 to 0-3 out of 10 within two to 14 days of therapy initiation. Overall opioid use decreased by at least an estimated 70%, without drug related adverse events. In this small series of patients, levetiracetam effectively and safely improved pain relief in patients with neoplastic plexopathies previously resistant to standard analgesic approaches.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Anticonvulsants; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Pain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Piracetam