It was found that inhibition of ODC by eflornithine does not kill proliferating cells, making eflornithine ineffective as a chemotherapeutic agent. The inhibition of the formation of polyamines by ODC activity can be ameliorated by dietary and bacterial means because high concentrations are found in cheese, red meat, and some intestinal bacteria, providing reserves if ODC is inhibited. Although the role of polyamines in carcinogenesis is still unclear, polyamine synthesis has been supported to be more of a causative agent rather than an associative effect in cancer.Other studies have suggested that eflornithine can still aid in some chemoprevention by lowering polyamine levels in colorectal mucosa, with additional strong preclinical evidence available for application of eflornithine in colorectal and skin carcinogenesis. This has made eflornithine a supported chemopreventive therapy specifically for colon cancer in combination with other medications. Several additional studies have found that eflornithine in combination with other compounds decreases the carcinogen concentrations of ethylnitrosourea, dimethylhydrazine, azoxymethane, methylnitrosourea, and hydroxybutylnitrosamine in the brain, spinal cord, intestine, mammary gland, and urinary bladder. Contraindications
Topical
Topical use is contraindicated in people hypersensitive to eflornithine or to any of the excipients.Throughout clinical trials, data from a limited number of exposed pregnancies indicate that there is no clinical evidence that treatment with Vaniqa adversely affects pregnant women or fetuses. By mouth
When taken by mouth the risk-benefit should be assessed in people with impaired renal function or pre-existing hematologic abnormalities, as well as those with eighth-cranial-nerve impairment. Adequate and well-controlled studies with eflornithine have not been performed regarding pregnancy in humans.
Kuvan or Kuvan Darya is a dry riverbed of what once was a tributary of the Syr river in Central Asia. The area is located west of Kzyl-Orda. It is an area of archaeological interest and was once home to tigers whose range extensed to the reedy shores of the Aral Sea. The area includes unusual kurgan burial sites. In the late 19th century there was some flow along the tributary before it petered out in marshlands. == References ==