| abstract |
This invention provides a treatment regimen that is effective in inhibiting chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and promoting cell survival. The invention also relates to a treatment regimen that confers resistance to caspase activation, thereby inhibiting caspase-mediated, proteolytic cleavage of functional cellular enzymes. Specifically, subjects undergoing chemotherapy are first exposed to a pretreatment regimen. Under this regimen, a GLP-2 receptor activator, such as h[GLY2]-GLP2, is administered each day for a predetermined beneficial period, e.g., three consecutive days. Approximately about 1 week following pretreatment, the subjects are exposed to an appropriate chemotherapy treatment regimen. Pretreatment with a GLP-2 receptor activator followed by administration of chemotherapeutic agents improves cell survival, reduces bacteremia, attenuates epithelial injury, and inhibits cellular apoptosis. Moreover, it does not impair the effectiveness of chemotherapy nor result in weight loss. The anti-apoptotic effects of GLP-2 may be useful in the reduction of cytoxicity and bacterial infection induced by chemotherapeutic agents. |