Carcinogenic and modulatory effects of flunixin meglumine evaluated using the epithelial tumor test in Drosophila melanogaster
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v20n6e1974Keywords:
Carcinogenesis, doxorubicin, modulatory effectAbstract
Flunixin meglumine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used in veterinary medicine for the control of pain, fever, and inflammation. In clinical practice, it is commonly administered for postoperative pain management and for the treatment of mastitis, laminitis, colic, respiratory diseases, and other conditions in horses, cattle, and pigs. The present study aimed to evaluate the carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic potential of flunixin meglumine using the Epithelial Tumor Test (ETT) in Drosophila melanogaster as an experimental model. The modulatory effect of flunixin meglumine in combination with doxorubicin, as well as its carcinogenic potential at concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 mM, was investigated. The results showed that flunixin meglumine exhibited a carcinogenic effect at the highest concentration tested (4 mM). However, when combined with doxorubicin, the compound also demonstrated a modulatory effect at all concentrations evaluated. Although the mechanisms underlying these findings were not directly investigated, they may be associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species at higher concentrations and with modulation of the inflammatory microenvironment, which plays a critical role in the immune response and tumor suppression.
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