Therapeutic uses of gallium nitrate: past, present, and future.

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Apseloff G

Therapeutic uses of gallium nitrate: past, present, and future.

Am J Ther. 1999 Nov;6(6):327-39. doi: 10.1097/00045391-199911000-00008.

PubMed ID

11329118 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Injectable gallium (Ga) nitrate, approved in the United States for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy, has been known for more than 2 decades to have immunosuppressive properties. At therapeutic doses, it has few adverse effects, although high-dose infusions may result in severe nephrotoxicity, particularly in patients who are not adequately hydrated, and severe anemia. In animal models, Ga has been shown to have efficacy in the treatment of adjuvant arthritis, type 1 diabetes, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, experimental pulmonary inflammation, cardiac allograft rejection, experimental autoimmune uveitis, endotoxic shock, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy in Paget's disease of bone and activity against some malignancies, including epithelial ovarian carcinoma, non-squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, bladder cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Other clinical trials underway include studies of sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Future studies should be conducted not only in other autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, but also in graft-versus-host disease, leprosy, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Gallium nitrate

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Gallium nitrate	Ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M2	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Inhibitor	Details

Drug Carriers

Drug	Carrier	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Gallium nitrate	Serotransferrin	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Binder	Details