Copper deficiency as an anti-cancer strategy.
Copper is a tightly regulated trace element. Disruptions of copper homeostasis are rare and they cause serious disorders such as Wilson's disease and Menkes disease. Copper also plays an important role in promoting physiological and malignant angiogenesis. Formation of new blood vessels by a tumor enables tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. The copper chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TM), which quickly and effectively depletes copper stores, is under investigation as an anti-angiogenic agent. Promising results in vitro, in pre-clinical animal models and in an early (phase I) clinical trial have led to ongoing phase II evaluation of TM in patients with advanced cancers.
Goodman
V L
VL
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Brewer
G J
GJ
Merajver
S D
SD
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003300:Copper; D008982:Molybdenum; C020809:tetrathiomolybdate