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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
09:20
Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts
Published on: June 26, 2018
8.6K
[Potential Anticancer Activity of Auranofin].
Isao Momose1, Takefumi Onodera1, Manabu Kawada1
1Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Numazu, Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation.
Summary
Auranofin, an oral gold compound, is explored for repurposing beyond rheumatoid arthritis. Its inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) shows potential for treating cancer and other diseases by increasing oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gold compounds have historical therapeutic uses.
- Auranofin, approved in 1985 by the FDA, treats rheumatoid arthritis orally.
- Auranofin shows potential in treating cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, AIDS, and infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of auranofin as an anticancer agent.
- To explore drug repurposing strategies for auranofin in disease treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on auranofin's mechanism of action.
- Analysis of auranofin's role in cellular redox systems, specifically the thioredoxin (Trx) system.
- Examination of auranofin's effects on thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibition.
Main Results:
- Auranofin inhibits thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a key enzyme in the Trx system.
- TrxR inhibition by auranofin increases cellular oxidative stress.
- Suppression of tumor growth is observed due to increased oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Auranofin demonstrates significant potential as an anticancer therapeutic.
- Drug repurposing of auranofin offers a viable strategy for developing new treatments for various diseases.
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