Cancer Research using ALZET^® Osmotic Pumps

 

Cancer research is a multifaceted area of study which is in no way limited to investigations designed to assess the carcinogenic or, indeed, anti-carcinogenic potential of chemical compounds. Increasingly, attention is being paid to the mechanisms of action involved in the generation of cancerous cells, the manner in which anti-tumor therapeutics exert their beneficial effects, and the role endogenous factors may play, both in the facilitation and inhibition of cancerous cell development.

Despite the range of studies involved, one common factor necessary for the success of these investigations is the ability of the researcher to control the delivery of the agents under study in a precise and dependable manner. The ALZET osmotic pump provides a solution, permitting continuous, controlled dosing, thus enabling the researcher to achieve steady state conditions and accurate delivery of diverse compounds, including those of low bioavailability, over prolonged periods of time. The references offered on this web site illustrate the use of ALZET pumps for the successful delivery of carcinogens, anti-cancer drugs, endogenous factors and modulators, monoclonal antibodies, vitamin analogues and antisense oligonucleotides.

In addition, a much utilized method of determining the carcinogenic potential of compounds and the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer treatments has been the measurement of cell proliferation levels in tissues of interest. A major challenge in such studies is the ability to maintain a continuous presence of the chosen cell-labeling agent, as variable levels may result in the researcher failing to detect bursts in cell proliferation. The use of ALZET pumps has been well documented as a means of delivering agents, such as bromodeoxyuridine, at a constant rate, thus ensuring the researcher detects all cell proliferation occurring over the required time period.

The antitumor effects of many chemotherapeutic agents are influenced by schedule of drug administration. ALZET pumps allow cancer researchers to compare the effects of anticancer agents given by infusion and one or more regimens of injection. Examples of recent cancer-related research are included in a list of relevant citations and in the following bibliographies:

Some of these bibliographies may be large and take a short while to display. These bibliographies are updated frequently. As the references are listed most recent first, you may wish to truncate your printing to ten pages or less.

Antibiotics

Antibodies

Antioxidants

Antisense Oligonucleotides

Chemotherapeutic Agents

Cytokines

Estrogens

Growth Factors

Immunosuppressants

Injection-Infusion Comparisons (studies which compare the effects of drugs when given by injection and infusion)

Intratumoral Delivery

Measuring Cell Proliferation In Vivo (continuous BrdU or ³H-thymidine labeling)

Targeted Delivery

Testosterone

If you are interested in a specific agent and did not find it listed above, check the index by Agent Administered.