BACKGROUND: Artemisinin is a compound isolated from the wormwood Artemisia annua L. It reacts with iron and forms cytotoxic free radicals. It is selectively more toxic to cancer than normal cells because cancer cells contain significantly more intracellular free iron. Previously, we found that covalently tagging artemisinin to transferrin enhanced the selectivity and toxicity of artemisinin toward cancer cells in vitro. In the present research, artemisinin-transferrin conjugate was tested in a rat breast cancer model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast tumors were induced in rats by subcutaneous implantation of rat MTLn3 breast cancer cells. Once tumors were formed, daily intravenous injections of artemisinin-transferrin conjugate were administered. RESULTS: The conjugate significantly retarded the growth rate of breast tumors in the rat. No significant side effect was observed in the rats during treatment. CONCLUSION: Artemisinin-transferrin conjugate could be developed into a potent therapeutic agent for cancer in humans.
BACKGROUND:Artemisinin is a compound isolated from the wormwoodArtemisia annua L. It reacts with iron and forms cytotoxic free radicals. It is selectively more toxic to cancer than normal cells because cancer cells contain significantly more intracellular free iron. Previously, we found that covalently tagging artemisinin to transferrin enhanced the selectivity and toxicity of artemisinin toward cancer cells in vitro. In the present research, artemisinin-transferrin conjugate was tested in a ratbreast cancer model. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Breast tumors were induced in rats by subcutaneous implantation of rat MTLn3 breast cancer cells. Once tumors were formed, daily intravenous injections of artemisinin-transferrin conjugate were administered. RESULTS: The conjugate significantly retarded the growth rate of breast tumors in the rat. No significant side effect was observed in the rats during treatment. CONCLUSION:Artemisinin-transferrin conjugate could be developed into a potent therapeutic agent for cancer in humans.
Authors: Lin Ye; Yongning Jia; K E Ji; Andrew J Sanders; Kan Xue; Jiafu Ji; Malcolm D Mason; Wen G Jiang Journal: Oncol Lett Date: 2015-07-06 Impact factor: 2.967
Authors: Tracy R Daniels; Ezequiel Bernabeu; José A Rodríguez; Shabnum Patel; Maggie Kozman; Diego A Chiappetta; Eggehard Holler; Julia Y Ljubimova; Gustavo Helguera; Manuel L Penichet Journal: Biochim Biophys Acta Date: 2011-08-05