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Pacheco-Fernandez T, Markle H, Verma C, Huston R, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Satoskar AR. Field-Deployable Treatments For Leishmaniasis: Intrinsic Challenges, Recent Developments and Next Steps. Res Rep Trop Med 2023; 14:61-85. [PMID: 37492219 PMCID: PMC10364832 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s392606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease endemic primarily to low- and middle-income countries, for which there has been inadequate development of affordable, safe, and efficacious therapies. Clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis range from self-healing skin lesions to lethal visceral infection with chances of relapse. Although treatments are available, secondary effects limit their use outside the clinic and negatively impact the quality of life of patients in endemic areas. Other non-medicinal treatments, such as thermotherapies, are limited to use in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis but not with visceral infection. Recent studies shed light to mechanisms through which Leishmania can persist by hiding in cellular safe havens, even after chemotherapies. This review focuses on exploring the cellular niches that Leishmania parasites may be leveraging to persist within the host. Also, the cellular, metabolic, and molecular implications of Leishmania infection and how those could be targeted for therapeutic purposes are discussed. Other therapies, such as those developed against cancer or for manipulation of the ferroptosis pathway, are proposed as possible treatments against leishmaniasis due to their mechanisms of action. In particular, treatments that target hematopoietic stem cells and monocytes, which have recently been found to be necessary components to sustain the infection and provide a safe niche for the parasites are discussed in this review as potential field-deployable treatments against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Hannah Markle
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Chaitenya Verma
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Ryan Huston
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
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Piccica M, Lagi F, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L. Efficacy and safety of pentamidine isethionate for tegumentary and visceral human leishmaniasis: a systematic review. J Travel Med 2021; 28:6246322. [PMID: 33890115 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taab065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE FOR REVIEW We performed a systematic review of the literature to investigate the efficacy and safety of pentamidine isethionate for the treatment of human tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis. KEY FINDINGS A total of 616 papers were evaluated, and 88 studies reporting data on 3108 cases of leishmaniasis (2082 patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis and 1026 with visceral leishmaniasis) were finally included. The majority of available studies were on New World cutaneous leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani. At the same time, few data are available for Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucosal leishmaniasis, and visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum. Pooled cure rate for tegumentary leishmaniasis was 78.8% (CI 95%, 76.9-80.6%) and 92.7% (CI 95%, 88.3-97.1%) according to controlled randomized trial and observational studies and case report and case series respectively. Pooled cure rate for visceral leishmaniasis was 84.8% (CI 95%, 82.6-87.1%) and 90.7% (CI 95%, 84.1-97.3%) according to controlled randomized trial and observational studies and case report and case series, respectively. Comparable cure rate was observed in recurrent and refractory cases of visceral leishmaniasis. Concerning the safety profile, among about 2000 treated subjects with some available information, the most relevant side effects were six cases of arrhythmia (including four cases of fatal ventricular fibrillation), 20 cases of irreversible diabetes, 26 cases of muscular aseptic abscess following intramuscular administration. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS Pentamidine isethionate is associated with a similar cure rate of the first-line anti-leishmanial drugs. Severe and irreversible adverse effect appear to be rare. The drug may still have a role in the treatment of any form of human leishmaniasis when the first-line option has failed or in patients who cannot tolerate other drugs also in the setting of travel medicine. In difficult cases, the drug can also be considered as a component of a combination treatment regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Piccica
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, largo Brambilla 3, Firenze (FI), Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, largo Brambilla 3, Firenze (FI), Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, largo Brambilla 3, Firenze (FI), Florence 50134, Italy
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Domingues M, Menezes Y, Ostronoff F, Calixto R, Florencio R, Sucupira A, Souto-Maior AP, Ostronoff M. Coexistence of Leishmaniasis and Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a Lymph Node. J Clin Oncol 2009; 27:e184-5. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2009.22.7835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Domingues
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
| | - Yara Menezes
- Division of Pathology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Ostronoff
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Calixto
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Florencio
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Sucupira
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Mauricio Ostronoff
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Real-Hospital Português, Recife, Brazil
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Kopterides P, Mourtzoukou EG, Skopelitis E, Tsavaris N, Falagas ME. Aspects of the association between leishmaniasis and malignant disorders. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101:1181-9. [PMID: 17870139 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2007] [Revised: 08/06/2007] [Accepted: 08/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the prevalence of leishmaniasis and cancer, the co-existence of these two diseases may be merely coincidental. However, a number of epidemiological, experimental and laboratory studies suggest that an association between these two entities does exist. The aim of this review is to summarise the occurrence of leishmaniasis as an opportunistic infection associated with malignant disorders and to present the available literature potentially linking this infection with the development of cancerous lesions. We searched electronic databases and evaluated 37 studies involving 44 patients. Four different types of association between leishmaniasis and cancer were established: leishmaniasis mimicking a malignant disorder, such as lymphoma; leishmaniasis arising as a difficult to diagnose and treat infection among patients receiving chemotherapy for various malignant disorders; simultaneous diagnosis of leishmaniasis and a neoplastic disorder in the same tissue samples of immunocompromised patients; and direct involvement of Leishmania spp. in the pathogenesis/occurrence of malignant lesions, especially of the skin and mucous membranes. The main conclusion of this review is that leishmaniasis can directly or indirectly affect the presentation, diagnosis and course of various malignant disorders and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of malignancies in geographic areas where it is endemic and/or in patients with travel history to these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Kopterides
- Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, 151 23 Marousi, Department of Pathophysiology, Oncology Unit, Laiko General Hospital, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
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