This invention provides a
treatment regimen that is effective in inhibiting
chemotherapy-induced
apoptosis and promoting
cell survival. The invention also relates to a
treatment regimen that confers resistance to
caspase activation, thereby inhibiting
caspase-mediated, proteolytic cleavage of functional cellular enzymes. Specifically, subjects undergoing
chemotherapy are first exposed to a pretreatment
regimen. Under this
regimen, a GLP-2
receptor activator, such as h[GLY2]-GLP2, is administered each day for a predetermined beneficial period, e.g., three consecutive days. Approximately about 1 week following pretreatment, the subjects are exposed to an appropriate
chemotherapy treatment regimen. Pretreatment with a GLP-2
receptor activator followed by administration of chemotherapeutic agents improves
cell survival, reduces
bacteremia, attenuates epithelial injury, and inhibits cellular
apoptosis. Moreover, it does not impair the effectiveness of chemotherapy nor result in
weight loss. The anti-apoptotic effects of GLP-2 may be useful in the reduction of cytoxicity and bacterial
infection induced by chemotherapeutic agents.