3 ‐Bromopyruvate (3BP) as a Potent Anticancer Therapy in Honor and Memory of the Late Professor André Goffeau

Abstract3 ‐bromopyruvate (3BP) is a small, highly reactive molecule formed by bromination of pyruvate. In the year 2000 the antitumor properties of 3BP were discovered. Studies using animal models proved its high efficacy for anti‐cancer therapy with no apparent side effects. This was also found to be the case in a limited number of cancer patients treated with 3BP. Due to the 'Warburg effect' most tumor cells exhibit metabolic changes, e.g., increased glucose consumption and lactic acid production resulting from mitochondrial bound overexpressed hexokinase 2. Such alterations promote cell migration , immortalityvia inhibition of apoptosis, and less dependence on the availability of oxygen. Significantly, these attributes also make cancer cells more sensitive to agents, such as 3BP that inhibits energy production pathways without harming normal cells. This selectivity of 3BP is mainly due to overexpressed monocarboxylate transporters in cancer cells. Furthermore, 3BP is not a substrate for any pumps belonging to theATP ‐binding cassette superfamily which confers resistance to a variety of drugs. Also, 3BP has the capacity to induce multiple forms of cell death, by e.g. ATP depletion resulting from inactivation of both glycolytic and mitochondrial energy production pathways. In addition to its anticancer property , 3BP also exhibits antimicrobial activity. Various species of microorganisms are characterized by different susceptibility to 3BP inhibition. Among tested stra...
Source: Yeast - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE Source Type: research