Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells
12:55

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Published on: October 10, 2017

8.5K

Redox-directed cancer therapeutics: Taurolidine and Piperlongumine as broadly effective antineoplastic agents

Hanns Möhler1, Rolf W Pfirrmann2, Karl Frei3

  • 1Institute of Pharmacology, University of Zurich and Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.

International Journal of Oncology
|September 2, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Two antineoplastic agents, Taurolidine and Piperlongumine, target tumor cell oxidative stress for broad-spectrum cancer treatment. Their efficacy relies on inducing programmed cell death, with Taurolidine showing promise in surgical oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Targeting the oxygen stress response pathway is a promising strategy for broad-spectrum antineoplastic activity.
  • Taurolidine and Piperlongumine are antineoplastic agents with broad tumor selectivity.
  • Understanding their redox-directed mechanisms is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the mechanism of action of Taurolidine and Piperlongumine.
  • To highlight their selective enhancement of oxidative stress in tumor cells.
  • To discuss the potential of Taurolidine in surgical oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Taurolidine and Piperlongumine.
  • Analysis of their effects on oxidative stress (ROS) in tumor cells.
  • Evaluation of their induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy).

Main Results:

  • Taurolidine selectively enhances oxidative stress in tumor cells, leading to cytotoxicity.
  • Its efficacy is modulated by reducing agents and agents inhibiting antioxidant capacity.
  • Piperlongumine exhibits a similar redox-directed antineoplastic action.
  • Taurolidine demonstrated efficacy against tumor stem cells in vitro and in vivo.
  • Initial clinical applications show good tolerability of Taurolidine.

Conclusions:

  • Taurolidine and Piperlongumine represent promising redox-directed antineoplastic agents.
  • Taurolidine's ability to induce programmed cell death and its favorable tolerability make it advantageous in surgical oncology.
  • Further research into these agents could lead to novel cancer treatment strategies.

More Related Videos

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo08:19

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

Published on: July 20, 2019

5.3K
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles08:03

Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: December 1, 2016

8.1K

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.2K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.0K
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
11.8K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
3.1K