Therapeutic potential of iron chelators in cancer therapy.
The success of DFO at markedly inhibiting the growth of aggressive tumors such as neuroblastoma and leukemia justifies interest in the development of chelators as anti-neoplastic agents. This is emphasized by the fact that DFO has suboptimal properties, namely poor membrane permeability and a very short serum half-life. More recently, the thiosemicarbazone chelator, Triapine, has entered a phase I clinical trial again confirming the potential of these compounds. Further studies examining the effects of chelators on neoplastic cells will not only be valuable in terms of identifing novel anti-cancer agents, but will also provide new information on the role of Fe in cell cycle control.
Richardson
Des R
DR
The Iron Metabolism and Chelation Group, The Heart Research Institute, 145 Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, 2050 Australia.
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011730:Pyridoxal / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013882:Thiosemicarbazones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D013882:Thiosemicarbazones; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D011730:Pyridoxal; C021079:pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine; D007538:Isoniazid