Pine Cone Extract as an Adjuvant to Chemotherapy

描述（由申请人提供）：这项拟议的R21探索性研究的长期目标是确定利用松果提取物作为化疗辅助物的免疫刺激作用的方法。这种天然产物的活性成分已被鉴定为分子量大于100 kDa的木质素-多糖复合物。本研究旨在使用提取物联合化疗治疗小鼠模型中已建立的黑色素瘤。这项研究的一个主要目的是研究不同的给药途径和剂量，这些给药途径和剂量产生的抗肿瘤效果超过单独化疗所获得的效果。关于免疫系统参与这一过程的基本信息将通过组织学和细胞分析获得。在整个研究过程中获得的信息将用于进一步优化治疗。这项研究涉及人类健康的一个非常广泛的领域。本研究的成功完成将为改进黑色素瘤的化疗提供基础。它还将表明，由于木质素多糖复合物的免疫调节特性，辅助治疗可以应用于其他形式的癌症。因此，这项研究可能会影响未来对一类非常常见的人类疾病的治疗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this proposed R21 exploratory study is to identify ways to exploit the now proven immunostimulatory effects of pine cone extract as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. The active component of this natural product has been identified as a lignin-polysaccharide complex with a molecular weight greater than 100 kDa. This study is designed to use the extract in combination with chemotherapy to treat established melanoma in a murine model. A primary aim of the study is to investigate different routes of administration and doses that result in antitumor effects that exceed those obtained by chemotherapy alone. Basic information about the involvement of the immune system in this process will be obtained through histology and cellular assays. The information gained throughout the study will then be used to further optimize treatment.This study relates to a very broad area of concern for human health. Successful completion of the study will provide a foundation for improving chemotherapy in melanoma. It will also suggest, due to the immunomodulating properties of the lignin-polysaccharide complex, that the adjuvant therapy can be applied to other forms of cancer. Thus, this study could potentially influence future treatments for a category of human disease that is far too common.