Cited by 18Acute Myeloid Leukemia ResearchCancer-related Molecular PathwaysMetal complexes synthesis and properties

Disulfiram/copper shows potent cytotoxic effects on myelodysplastic syndromes via inducing Bip-mediated apoptosis and suppressing autophagy

Zha, Jie, Bi, Silei, Deng, Manman, Chen, Kai, Shi, Pengcheng, Feng, Liying, He, Jixiang, Pu, Xuan +6 more·2021·European Journal of Pharmacology

Abstract

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who resist or fail to respond to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) show very poor outcomes and have no effective treatment strategies. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed for MDS patients harboring adverse prognostic factors. Repurposing disulfiram (DSF), an alcohol-abuse drug, with or without Copper (Cu) has attracted considerable attentions as a candidate anti-tumor therapy in diverse malignancies. However, the effect of DSF in the presence or absence of Cu on MDS has not been reported yet. In this study, we found that monotherapy with DSF showed mild cytotoxic effects on MDS preclinical models. However, the anti-tumor activity of DSF was significantly enhanced in the presence of Cu in MDS in vitro and in vivo with minimal safety profiles. DSF/Cu combination blocked MDS cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase, accompanied by reduction of the S phase. Accordingly, co-treatment with DSF and Cu downregulated the expression of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin A2, whereas this combination upregulated the level of P21 and P27. Mechanistically, the anti-MDS effectiveness of DSF/Cu was potentially associated with activation of the ER stress-related Bip pathway and inactivation of the Akt pathway. In addition, inhibition of autophagy process also contributed to the cytotoxicity of DSF/Cu in MDS cells. In conclusion, these findings provide impressive evidence that the DSF/Cu complex shows potent anti-tumor efficacies on MDS preclinical models, representing a potential alternative therapy for MDS patients and warranting further investigation in clinical contexts.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174107

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Authors
Zha, J., Bi, S., Deng, M., Chen, K., Shi, P., Feng, L., He, J., Pu, X., Guo, C., Zhao, H., Li, Z., Jiang, Y., Song, H., & Xu, B.
Affiliations
  • Xiamen University (CN)
  • Heze Municipal Hospital (CN)
  • Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
  • Nanfang Hospital (CN)
  • Dongguan People’s Hospital (CN)
  • Case Western Reserve University (US)
  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Jiang, Yirong
  • Song, Haihan
  • Xu, Bing
Venue
European Journal of Pharmacology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-07
Volume
902
Pages
174107
ISSN
0014-2999 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3154093210
Cited by
18
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • European Journal of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Metal complexes synthesis and properties
Keywords
disulfiram, copper, myelodysplastic syndrome, drug repurposing, combination therapy, apoptosis, autophagy inhibition, endoplasmic reticulum stress, Akt signaling, cell cycle arrest, cyclin D1, cyclin A2, p21, p27, cytotoxicity
MeSH terms
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Autophagy, Cell Cycle, Copper, Disulfiram, Female, Heat-Shock Proteins, Humans, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Nude, Mitochondria, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Apoptosis, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Proliferation, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt, Mice, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

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