title: Difluoromethylornithine in cancer: new advances.
abstract: Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO; eflornithine) is an irreversible suicide inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase which is involved in polyamine synthesis. Polyamines are important for cell survival, thus DFMO was studied as an anticancer agent and as a chemoprevention agent. DFMO exhibited mainly cytostatic activity and had single agent efficacy as well as activity in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs for some cancers and leukemias. Herewith, we summarize the current knowledge of the anticancer and chemopreventive properties of DFMO and assess the status of clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Institute, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, GR 451 10, Greece.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Institute, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, GR 451 10, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lianos
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Institute, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, GR 451 10, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ragos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galani
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Institute, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, GR 451 10, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D000518:Eflornithine
keywords: chemoprevention; clinical trial; colorectal cancer; difluoromethylornithine; glioma; pancreatic cancer