Repurposing Disulfiram as a Chemo-Therapeutic Sensitizer: Molecular Targets and Mechanisms

Author(s):

Feilong Sun, Hongzhi Wang, Jinfu Nie and Bo Hong*   Pages 2920 - 2926 ( 7 )

Abstract:

Currently, chemotherapy is still the main strategy for cancer treatment. However, chemotherapy resistance remains a challenge. Disulfiram (DSF) is an FDA-approved medicine for the treatment of alcoholism; however, it was later revealed to have anticancer properties. Importantly, numerous studies have shown that DSF can be employed as a chemotherapeutic sensitizer to enhance the anticancer efficacy of chemo-drugs in a variety of cancers. Furthermore, the combinations of DSF and chemo-drugs have been tested in clinical trials. In the review, we summarized the possible molecular targets and mechanisms of DSF to reverse chemo-resistance. We also further discussed the opportunities and challenges of DSF as a chemo-therapeutic sensitizer. In conclusion, DSF could be a potentially repurposed drug that sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy in the clinic.

Keywords:

Disulfiram, chemo-therapy, chemo-therapy sensitizer, anticancer mechanisms, molecular targets, drug resistance.

Affiliation:

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