Nimodipine Used with Vincristine: Protects Schwann Cells and Neuronal Cells from Vincristine-Induced Cell Death but Increases Tumor Cell Susceptibility.

The chemotherapeutic agent vincristine is commonly used for a variety of hematologic cancers, as well as solid tumors of the head and neck, bronchial carcinoma, as part of the procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine (PCV) regimen, for glioma. Damage to nerve tissue (neuropathy) is often dose-limiting and restricts treatment. Nimodipine is a calcium antagonist that has also shown neuroprotective properties in preliminary studies.

Nimodipine Treatment Protects Auditory Hair Cells from Cisplatin-Induced Cell Death Accompanied by Upregulation of LMO4.

Ototoxicity is one of the main dose-limiting side effects of cisplatin chemotherapy and impairs the quality of life of tumor patients dramatically. Since there is currently no established standard therapy targeting hearing loss in cisplatin treatment, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nimodipine and its role in cell survival in cisplatin-associated hearing cell damage. To determine the cytotoxic effect, the cell death rate was measured using undifferentiated and differentiated UB/OC-1 and UB/OC-2 cells, after nimodipine pre-treatment and stress induction by cisplatin.