The significance of substance P in physiological and malignant hematopoiesis

Abstract

The role of substance P (SP) in physiological hematopoiesis is currently well established. On the other hand, it seems to have also the significant meaning in the neoplastic transformation of bone marrow leading to the development of acute leukaemia in children as well as facilitating of metastases to bone marrow of solid tumors (particularly neuroblastoma and breast cancer) in early periods of these diseases. The authors summarized the available data concerning SP engagement in both processes indicating that in the future SP antagonists might be considered to be employed as anti-neoplastic drugs, e.g. by direct or indirect blocking of tumor cell proliferation through inhibition of growth factor production, including also interleukin-1b synthesis.