Potentials of C‐C motif chemokine 2–C‐C chemokine receptor type 2 blockers including propagermanium as anticancer agents

Inflammation plays an essential role in the development and progression of most cancers. Chemokine C‐C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2) and its receptor C‐C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) constitute a key signaling axis in inflammation that has recently attracted much interest on the basis of evidence showing its association with cancer progression. Propagermanium (3‐oxygermylpropionic acid polymer) is an organogermanium compound that is given for the treatment of hepatitis B in Japan and which inhibits the CCL2‐CCR2 signaling pathway. Herein, we review the importance of the CCL2‐CCR2 axis as a target in cancer treatment as shown by studies in mice and humans with pharmacological agents including propagermanium.     

Short-term efficacy of potassium-competitive acid blocker following gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: a propensity score analysis

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising method for the resection of superficial gastric neoplasms. Vonoprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) that is currently considered as a potential alternative to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the treatment of acid-related diseases. However, the utility of vonoprazan in ESD-related ulcers is unclear. Therefore, we compared the short-term efficacies of vonoprazan and the PPI lansoprazole in ESD-related ulcer healing during the first two weeks following intervention.

Methods: This study included 115 superficial gastric neoplasms that were treated by ESD at Hiraka General Hospital between April 2015 and January 2017. Patients treated with P-CAB (20?mg vonoprazan, n?=?62) or PPI (30?mg lansoprazole, n?=?53) were compared using propensity-score matching analysis. Primary outcome was rate of ulcer reduction at two weeks after ESD. Secondary outcomes were coverage ratio of ulcer base by granulation tissue and incidence of postoperative bleeding.

Results: The rate of ulcer reduction was significantly higher (median [range], 80.6% [67.6%–94.5%] vs. 62.7% [33.4%–85.2%]; p?P?Conclusions: P-CAB achieved rapid artificial ulcer healing with promotion of granulation tissue formation. However, conventional PPI with initial intravenous infusion might be sufficient for prevention of postoperative bleeding following gastric ESD.