Potential Uses
Swainsonine is an anti-cancer drug with potential for treating glioma and gastric carcinoma. However, a phase II clinical trial of GD0039 (a hydrochloride salt of swainsonine) in 17 patients with renal carcinoma was discouraging. Swainsonine's activity against tumors is attributed to its stimulation of macrophages.
Swainsonine also has potential uses as an adjuvant for anti-cancer drugs and other therapies in use. In mice, swainsonine reduces the toxicity of doxorubicin, suggesting that swainsonine might enable use of higher doses of doxorubicin. Swainsonine may promote restoration of bone marrow damaged by some types of cancer treatments.
Swainsonine is an appetite suppressant.
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