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A systematic review of disulfiram as an antibacterial agent: What is the evidence? Int J Antimicrob Agents 2022; 59:106578. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2022.106578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Kannappan V, Ali M, Small B, Rajendran G, Elzhenni S, Taj H, Wang W, Dou QP. Recent Advances in Repurposing Disulfiram and Disulfiram Derivatives as Copper-Dependent Anticancer Agents. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:741316. [PMID: 34604310 PMCID: PMC8484884 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.741316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper (Cu) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by acting as a co-factor that regulates the activity of many enzymes and structural proteins in cancer cells. Therefore, Cu-based complexes have been investigated as novel anticancer metallodrugs and are considered as a complementary strategy for currently used platinum agents with undesirable general toxicity. Due to the high failure rate and increased cost of new drugs, there is a global drive towards the repositioning of known drugs for cancer treatment in recent years. Disulfiram (DSF) is a first-line antialcoholism drug used in clinics for more than 65 yr. In combination with Cu, it has shown great potential as an anticancer drug by targeting a wide range of cancers. The reaction between DSF and Cu ions forms a copper diethyldithiocarbamate complex (Cu(DDC)2 also known as CuET) which is the active, potent anticancer ingredient through inhibition of NF-κB and ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as alteration of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, DSF/Cu inhibits several molecular targets related to drug resistance, stemness, angiogenesis and metastasis and is thus considered as a novel strategy for overcoming tumour recurrence and relapse in patients. Despite its excellent anticancer efficacy, DSF has proven unsuccessful in several cancer clinical trials. This is likely due to the poor stability, rapid metabolism and/or short plasma half-life of the currently used oral version of DSF and the inability to form Cu(DDC)2 at relevant concentrations in tumour tissues. Here, we summarize the scientific rationale, molecular targets, and mechanisms of action of DSF/Cu in cancer cells and the outcomes of oral DSF ± Cu in cancer clinical trials. We will focus on the novel insights on harnessing the immune system and hypoxic microenvironment using DSF/Cu complex and discuss the emerging delivery strategies that can overcome the shortcomings of DSF-based anticancer therapies and provide opportunities for translation of DSF/Cu or its Cu(DDC)2 complex into cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinodh Kannappan
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.,Disulfican Ltd, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Misha Ali
- Departments of Oncology, Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Benjamin Small
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Gowtham Rajendran
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Salena Elzhenni
- Departments of Oncology, Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Hamza Taj
- Departments of Oncology, Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Weiguang Wang
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.,Disulfican Ltd, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Q Ping Dou
- Departments of Oncology, Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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Kleczkowska P, Sulejczak D, Zaremba M. Advantages and disadvantages of disulfiram coadministered with popular addictive substances. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 904:174143. [PMID: 33971180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Disulfiram (DSF) is a well-known anti-alcohol agent that inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase and results in extreme 'hangover' symptoms when consumed with alcohol. This drug, however, has been suggested as useful in other forms of drug addiction due to its beneficial potential in both drug abuse reduction and withdrawal. However, among other drugs used in alcohol dependence, it carries the greatest risk of pharmacological interactions. Concomitant use of DSF and central nervous system stimulants usually leads to harmful, undesirable effects. To date, there is still limited data regarding the detailed safety profile of DSF as a concomitant drug. In this review article, we outline the current state of knowledge about DSF, its broad pharmacological action, as well as therapeutic effects, with a particular emphasis on the molecular understanding of its potential pharmacodynamic interactions with common addictive substances (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, cannabinoids, opioids) supported by relevant examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Kleczkowska
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research (CBP), Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland; Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 01-163, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Dorota Sulejczak
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Zaremba
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 01-163, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research (CBP), Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
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Dalecki AG, Crawford CL, Wolschendorf F. Copper and Antibiotics: Discovery, Modes of Action, and Opportunities for Medicinal Applications. Adv Microb Physiol 2017; 70:193-260. [PMID: 28528648 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Copper is a ubiquitous element in the environment as well as living organisms, with its redox capabilities and complexation potential making it indispensable for many cellular functions. However, these same properties can be highly detrimental to prokaryotes and eukaryotes when not properly controlled, damaging many biomolecules including DNA, lipids, and proteins. To restrict free copper concentrations, all bacteria have developed mechanisms of resistance, sequestering and effluxing labile copper to minimize its deleterious effects. This weakness is actively exploited by phagocytes, which utilize a copper burst to destroy pathogens. Though administration of free copper is an unreasonable therapeutic antimicrobial itself, due to insufficient selectivity between host and pathogen, small-molecule ligands may provide an opportunity for therapeutic mimicry of the immune system. By modulating cellular entry, complex stability, resistance evasion, and target selectivity, ligand/metal coordination complexes can synergistically result in high levels of antibacterial activity. Several established therapeutic drugs, such as disulfiram and pyrithione, display remarkable copper-dependent inhibitory activity. These findings have led to development of new drug discovery techniques, using copper ions as the focal point. High-throughput screens for copper-dependent inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus uncovered several new compounds, including a new class of inhibitors, the NNSNs. In this review, we highlight the microbial biology of copper, its antibacterial activities, and mechanisms to discover new inhibitors that synergize with copper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Dalecki
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Gordon RM, Unsworth K, Seaton DR. The Development and Transmission of Scabies as Studied in Rodent Infections. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1943.11685179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Abstract
Seventy-five years after its first medical use was described, disulfiram's place in treatment is being favourably re-evaluated. This paper reviews its discovery and subsequent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete M Ellis
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
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