Published research on Naltrexone hydrochloride

4 peer-reviewed publications on Naltrexone hydrochloride in oncology research, clinical work first, then laboratory studies. Each entry reports what the authors stated; follow the link for the full paper.

This page is a reading list of peer-reviewed publications, compiled for information. It is not a statement of indications, a recommendation or medical advice. Results from cell and animal studies do not translate into clinical use. Medsuvac products are supplied for their registered purposes; clinical decisions belong to a qualified physician.

Case report
Revisiting the ALA/N (alpha-lipoic acid/low-dose naltrexone) protocol for people with metastatic and nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer: a report of 3 new cases

Berkson BM et al., Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2009

The authors described three additional pancreatic cancer patients treated with intravenous alpha-lipoic acid and oral low-dose naltrexone, reporting one alive at 39 months with liver metastases and two with no evidence of disease on PET after 4 to 5 months, and stated that the protocol warranted a clinical trial.
Review
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN): A promising treatment in immune-related diseases and cancer therapy

Li Z et al., International Immunopharmacology, 2018

The authors reviewed pharmacological functions and mechanisms of low-dose naltrexone and reported that within a specific dosage window it acted as an immunomodulator in autoimmune diseases and malignant tumours by binding opioid receptors on immune and tumour cells.
In vitro
Naltrexone at low doses upregulates a unique gene expression not seen with normal doses: Implications for its use in cancer therapy

Liu WM et al., International Journal of Oncology, 2016

Low-dose naltrexone selectively altered expression of cell cycle and immune modulation genes and increased pro-apoptotic BAD and BIK1 in cancer cell lines, and priming HCT116 cells with low-dose naltrexone before oxaliplatin increased cell killing to 49 percent versus 14 percent without priming.
In vitro
Low-dose naltrexone targets the opioid growth factor-opioid growth factor receptor pathway to inhibit cell proliferation: mechanistic evidence from a tissue culture model

Donahue RN et al., Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2011

In human ovarian cancer cells and other carcinoma lines, short-term opioid receptor blockade modelling low-dose naltrexone inhibited cell proliferation through the OGF-OGFr pathway and p16 and/or p21, whereas continuous blockade modelling high-dose naltrexone accelerated growth.

Naltrexone hydrochloride in the catalog (specifications, pack sizes, Certificate of Analysis)