Scientists have identified that regeneration obstacles after a spinal cord injury is reduced by the use of cancer drug Taxol.
![Cancer Drug Aids in Regeneration of Spinal Cord Injuries Cancer Drug Aids in Regeneration of Spinal Cord Injuries](https://www.medindia.net/afp/images/Health-flu-US-vaccine-122815.jpg)
Taxol, the trade name of a drug currently used for cancer treatment, has now been shown to promote regeneration of injured central nervous system (CNS)-nerve cells.
The scientists report that Taxol promotes regeneration of injured CNS-nerve cells in two ways: Taxol stabilizes the microtubules so that their order is maintained and the injured nerve cells regain their ability to grow.
In addition, Taxol prevents the production of an inhibitory substance in the scar tissue. The scar tissue, though reduced by Taxol, will still develop at the site of injury and can thus carry out its protective function. Yet growing nerve cells are now better able to cross this barrier.
Experiments in rats performed by this group verified the effects of Taxol. These researchers supplied the injury site after a partial spinal cord lesion with Taxol via a miniature pump. After just a few weeks, animals showed a significant improvement in their movements.
"So far we tested the effects of Taxol immediately after a lesion", explains Farida Hellal, the first author of the study.
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Source-ANI