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Anticancer activity of cardiac glycosides: At the frontier between cell-autonomous and immunological effects

Oliver Kepp1, Laurie Menger, Erika Vacchelli

  • 1INSERM; U848; Villejuif, France ; Institut Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France ; Université Paris Sud/Paris XI; Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.

Oncoimmunology
|December 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac glycosides (CGs), such as digoxin, may extend survival in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These compounds appear to enhance anti-cancer immune responses and promote cancer cell death, contributing to their therapeutic effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are known to modulate immune responses.
  • Clinical data suggest CGs, like digoxin, improve survival in carcinoma patients receiving chemotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential anticancer effects of cardiac glycosides.
  • To explore the immunomodulatory mechanisms of CGs in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical data from carcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy.
  • Examination of the effects of CGs on cancer cell death and immune response.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac glycosides (CGs) were associated with prolonged survival in cancer patients.
  • CGs appear to induce immunogenic cancer cell death.
  • CGs influence the immune response at multiple levels.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac glycosides (CGs) demonstrate potential as anticancer agents, possibly by enhancing immunogenic cell death and modulating the immune system.
  • Digoxin and similar CGs warrant further investigation for cancer therapy.

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