title: Control of copper status for cancer therapy.
abstract: Copper is a trace element which is tightly regulated in mammals and lower animals. Disruptions of copper homeostasis in humans are rare and they cause serious disorders such as Wilson's disease and Menke's disease. Copper plays an important role in promoting physiological and malignant angiogenesis. Formation of new blood vessels by a tumor enables tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis are copper requiring processes. The copper chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TM), which quickly and effectively depletes copper stores, is under investigation as an anti-angiogenic agent. Promising results from in vitro experiments, in pre-clinical animal models, and in a phase I clinical trial have led to several phase II trials of TM in patients with advanced cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Sofia D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Merajver
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003300:Copper / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003300:Copper; D008982:Molybdenum; C020809:tetrathiomolybdate