BOMBESIN IMPROVES SURVIVAL FROM METHOTREXATE-INDUCED ENTEROCOLITIS

Objective The authors determined whether bombesin could improve surviv al from methotrexate (MTX)induced enterocolitis. Summary Background Da ta Bombesin prevents gut mucosal atrophy, which is produced by feeding rats an elemental diet. Administration of MTX produces a lethal enter ocolitis in rats fed an elemental diet. Methods On treatment day 0, 60 rats were divided randomly into three groups and fed an elemental die t (Vivonex TEN, Sandoz, Minneapolis, MN) as the only source of nutriti on. Groups were subdivided further to receive either saline or bombesi n (10 mu g/kg, subcutaneously, three times a day) beginning either on day 0 or day 14. Methotrexate (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was given to all rats 14 days after the start of an elemental diet. Results Bomb esin prevented the mucosal atrophy in the ileum produced by the elemen tal diet and significantly decreased mortality in rats given MTX (whet her given as a pretreatment or at the time of MTX administration). Con clusion Bombesin significantly improved survival in a lethal model of MTX-induced enterocolitis, possibly by maintaining gut mucosal structu re. Administration of bombesin to patients receiving chemotherapy may be clinically useful in preventing the severe enterocolitis induced by various chemotherapeutic agents.