Efficacy of Cyproheptadine Monotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Bone Metastasis

[Orome]

Efficacy of Cyproheptadine Monotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Bone Metastasis: A Case Report

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Particularly, cases of bone metastasis have poorer prognoses.A 62-year-old woman with suspected advanced HCC accompanied by bone metastasis with severe ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Particularly, cases of bone metastasis have poorer prognoses.

Case Presentation
A 62-year-old woman with suspected advanced HCC accompanied by bone metastasis with severe back pain and sciatica showed disease remission after cyproheptadine monotherapy. Initially, her serum alpha fetal protein (AFP) level was high, reaching up to 17697.62 ng/ml. A dose of 4 mg cyproheptadine, 3 times a day for 17 months was prescribed as the only treatment. Within 3 months, the serum AFP level gradually normalized down to 4.3 ng/ml. Both liver biopsy and bone biopsies were subsequently performed after 2 weeks of cyproheptadine. The results showed no malignancy. During the 34 months of follow-ups, the serum AFP remained normal in the range of 1.05 to 2.86 ng/ml. The patient has survived for 5 years without back pain and sciatica thus far.

Conclusions
This is the first report to investigate a successful clinical approach in cyproheptadine monotherapy for an advanced HCC patient with bone metastasis. We recommend cyproheptadine as a potential anti-HCC agent for the treatment of HCC with bone metastasis, but more related studies such as prospectively clinical trials, and ideally randomized trials are still needed.
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Cypro for the win again. Haidut posted similar studies already in 2013:
Cyproheptadine - A Wonder Drug? (see anti-cancer properties)

 

[Korven]

Amazing, thanks for sharing.

"Chronically high levels of circulating inflammatory promoters, such as serotonin and histamine, can damage the liver (15). Serotonin may facilitate HCC growth, aggravate viral hepatitis, and play a crucial role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis (16). Serotonin is also involved in cancer cell migration, metastasis and angiogenesis. However, cyproheptadine is a serotonin antagonist and antihistamine agent, and the anti-inflammatory activity is presumably due to its anti-serotonin effect. Cyproheptadine alleviates the stress and inflammation in the liver, allowing it to better perform its detoxification functions."

 

[ecstatichamster]

Thank you for posting this!

 

[Sulcuscentralis]

Wow!

 

[Prota]

Fantastic! Thank you!