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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2014; 20(40): 14778-14786
Published online Oct 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14778
Published online Oct 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14778
Halofuginone for fibrosis, regeneration and cancer in the gastrointestinal tract
Mark Pines, Institute of Animal Sciences, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Author contributions: Pines M reviewed literature and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Mark Pines, PhD, Institute of Animal Sciences, the Volcani Center, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel. mark.pines@mail.huji.ac.il
Telephone: +972-8-9484408 Fax: +972-8-9475075
Received: February 16, 2014
Revised: May 1, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: October 28, 2014
Revised: May 1, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: October 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Fibrosis is a pathological process associated with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix that leads to destruction of organ architecture and function. Fibrosis contributes enormously to deaths worldwide, thus therapies are of a great need. The concept of common fibrosis pathways that could be therapeutic targets in all organs is an attractive one. Halofuginone is a novel anti-fibrotic therapy that inhibits tissue fibrosis, regeneration, and development of tumors in tissues along the gastrointestinal tract. At present halofuginone is being evaluated in a clinical trial for another fibrotic indication, and any clinical success there would allow its use for all other fibrotic indications.