Fedorka SR, So K, Al-Hamashi AA, Gad I, Shah R, Kholodovych V, Alqahtani HD, Taylor WR, Tillekeratne LMV. Small-molecule anticancer agents kill cancer cells by harnessing reactive oxygen species in an iron-dependent manner.
Org Biomol Chem 2019;
16:1465-1479. [PMID:
29411821 DOI:
10.1039/c7ob03086j]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the course of generating a library of open-chain epothilones, we discovered a new class of small molecule anticancer agents that has no effect on tubulin but instead kills selected cancer cell lines by harnessing reactive oxygen species in an iron-dependent manner. Results of the preliminary studies are consistent with the recently described cell death mechanism ferroptosis. Studies are in progress to confirm ferroptosis as the cell death mechanism and to identify the specific molecular targets of these small molecule anticancer agents.
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