Abstract
Despite the progress achieved in chemo- and radiotherapy, cancer is still a leading life-threatening pathology. In that sense, there is a need for novel therapeutic strategies based on our current knowledge of cancer biology. Among the phenotypical features of cancer cells, two of them are of particular interest: their nearly universal glycolytic phenotype and their sensitivity towards an oxidative stress, both resulting from the combination of high anabolic needs and hypoxic growth conditions. By using menadione (vitamin K3) and ascorbate (vitamin C), we took advantage of these features to develop an original approach that consists in the exposure of cancer cells to an oxidant insult. When used in combination, these compounds exhibit a synergistic action and are devoid of major toxicity in vivo. Thus, this review is dedicated to the analysis of the molecular pathways by which this promising combination exerts its antitumoural effect.
Keywords: Ascorbate, menadione, cancer, oxidative stress, glycolysis, cell death
Current Molecular Pharmacology
Title: Targeting Cancer Cells by an Oxidant-Based Therapy
Volume: 1
Author(s): P. Buc Calderon, J. Verrax and H. Taper
Affiliation:
Keywords: Ascorbate, menadione, cancer, oxidative stress, glycolysis, cell death
Abstract: Despite the progress achieved in chemo- and radiotherapy, cancer is still a leading life-threatening pathology. In that sense, there is a need for novel therapeutic strategies based on our current knowledge of cancer biology. Among the phenotypical features of cancer cells, two of them are of particular interest: their nearly universal glycolytic phenotype and their sensitivity towards an oxidative stress, both resulting from the combination of high anabolic needs and hypoxic growth conditions. By using menadione (vitamin K3) and ascorbate (vitamin C), we took advantage of these features to develop an original approach that consists in the exposure of cancer cells to an oxidant insult. When used in combination, these compounds exhibit a synergistic action and are devoid of major toxicity in vivo. Thus, this review is dedicated to the analysis of the molecular pathways by which this promising combination exerts its antitumoural effect.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Calderon Buc P., Verrax J. and Taper H., Targeting Cancer Cells by an Oxidant-Based Therapy, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2008; 1 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467210801010080
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467210801010080 |
Print ISSN 1874-4672 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-4702 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Common mechanisms underpinning neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatric diseases
A growing number of large-scale epidemiologic studies has strongly suggested that common mechanisms may be shared by aberrant brain development and psychiatric disorders. There is now an appreciation of synergic roles of genetic variants and environmental stress which profoundly affect the genome integrity and reshape brain development. This can lead ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Autophagy in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia: Stem Cell Survival and Implication in Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Power from the Garden: Plant Compounds as Inhibitors of the Hallmarks of Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Significance of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Research in Current Medical Practice
Current Drug Metabolism Specificity of Binding in Protein Kinases
Current Enzyme Inhibition Computational Peptidology: A New and Promising Approach to Therapeutic Peptide Design
Current Medicinal Chemistry Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase Inhibitors in Cancer
Current Drug Targets Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Synthesis and Biological Activity of Quinoxalone Derivatives as BRD4 Bromodomain Inhibitors
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Patents on Immunotoxins and Chimeric Toxins for the Treatment of Cancer
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Biologics for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Small Molecule Inhibition of the Bcl-XL-BH3 Protein-Protein Interaction: Proof-of-Concept of an In Vivo Chemopotentiator ABT-737
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Bioactive Compounds Containing Benzoxadiazole, Benzothiadiazole, Benzotriazole
Current Bioactive Compounds Recent Developments to Improve the Efficacy of Cytotoxic Nucleoside Analogues
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery The Involvement of Post-Translational Modifications in Alzheimer's Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Design Strategies, Structures and Molecular Interactions of Small Molecule Src Inhibitors
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Innovative Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Serious Adverse Events Related to Both Chemo-Radiotherapy Protocol and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Syndrome: The Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Post-Treatment Reduces Hematopoietic Toxicity and Promotes Hematopoietic Reconstitution
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Chalcones in Cancer: Understanding their Role in Terms of QSAR
Current Medicinal Chemistry Determinants of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) WT1 Peptide Vaccine as a Paradigm for “Cancer Antigen-Derived Peptide”-Based Immunotherapy for Malignancies: Successful Induction of Anti-Cancer Effect by Vaccination with a Single Kind of WT1 Peptide
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry What Western Pharmacists Need to Know About Traditional Chinese Medicine; A Canadian Perspective
Current Traditional Medicine