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Advanced Neurology George Cotzias and L-DOPA therapy

QoL of PD patients. 24,28 In certain cases, it could have no In 1973, Cotzias was diagnosed with lung cancer and
adverse, including dyskinesia. The efficacy of carbidopa/ battled with the illness till the last moment by continuing to
24
L-DOPA is not typically questioned. Any inefficacy visit the hospital. 1,7,46 Despite his personal struggle, cancer
observed is often related to an individual’s tendency to became a source of inspiration for Cotzias, prompting him to
7,46
overproduce aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AAD) initiate scientific research on the disease. His studies proved
enzyme activity, rather than an issue with the drug itself. 36 that depletion of dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase
activity in the brain, which minimized spontaneous motor
Another alternative formulation of carbidopa/L-
DOPA involves nanoparticles (NPs) – small colloidal activities and motor responses to intravenous L-DOPA,
could be important indicators of a high probability of future
particles ranging from 10 and 200 nm. These NPs can breast cancer. Two years later, Cotzias was employed by
23
7
help overcome challenges related to drug delivery and Cornell University Medical College and Memorial Sloan-
potentially reduce toxicity. The intranasal delivery Kettering Cancer Center. He even hypothesized that the
23
7,46
of NP-encapsulated L-DOPA provides a non-invasive proper dose of DOPA could cure cancer. 3
delivery strategy that is easy for PD patients to administer
themselves. Its use resulted in reduced adverse effects, 9. Death of Cotzias
23
minimized L-DOPA dose, fewer treatments, and better
drug delivery to the central nervous system. 23 Cotzias died on June 13, 1977, at the age of 59 in
New York. 1,7,38,46 The Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer
Despite their efficacy, all the dopamine agonists and PD Center arranged for his body to be sent to Greece. His
3,46
medication could not replace L-DOPA therapy. 7,11,19,25,34,47,52 state funeral took place in Greece. The next day, The
46
New York Times published a commemorative article about
8. Awards received and the involvement in Cotzias. 46
cancer research
10. After death
In January 1977, when Cotzias traveled to Greece to help
his colleagues, he was already a renowned figure. 7,46 Six months after his death, the New York Scientific
Community Establishment and the Memorial Sloan-
It was in 1954 that George Cotzias received the
A. Cressy Morrison Award in the Natural Sciences. In Kettering Cancer Center organized an event in Cotzias’
38
honor. High-society members were present at this
1,7
1969, Cotzias was given an honorary degree from the ceremony. Among them were Laurence S. Rockefeller,
Santiago Catholic University and the Albert Lasker Award the permanent representative of Greece to the USA, and
in Clinical Medical Research. 1,2,7,38,46,82 The next year, came many Greek ambassadors. The Archbishop of the North
1,7
another honorary degree for Cotzias, this time from the American Greek Orthodox Church was also present. To
1,7
Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. In the same honor Cotzias’ memory, Greece issued a commemorative
38
year, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts stamp in his name (Figure 3). 1,7
and Sciences. In 1971, he was awarded the Honorary
38
Degree of St. John’s University, New York. The next
38
year Cotzias was awarded the Borden Award of the
American Medical College Association, while the Harvey
Society honored Cotzias for his discovery that some or
all of the main symptoms of PD could be reversed with
dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa). Indeed, the Harvey
7,82
Society defined the discovery as one of the greatest
therapeutic contributions of that generation. In 1973,
7,82
he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. 7,38 In
1974 came the annual prize from the American College
of Physicians and the honorary degree from the National
University of Athens. 38,82
Cotzias was ranked among the great personalities in
American medicine. He has a distinctive place in the
46
global history of 20 century medicine. The American
th-
82
medical journal Family Health classified Cotzias among the Figure 3. A commemorative stamp with a picture of George Cotzias.
first 100 most famous leaders in the World of International Copyright ©[2015] [Dr Dr Mylonas Anastasios] . Reprinted with
82
Health. 82 permission of [Dr Dr Mylonas Anastasios].
Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 48 doi: 10.36922/an.5177