Title:Ferroptosis: A Novel Mechanism of Artemisinin and its Derivatives in Cancer Therapy
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
Author(s): Shunqin Zhu, Qin Yu, Chunsong Huo, Yuanpeng Li, Linshen He, Botian Ran, Ji Chen, Yonghao Li and Wanhong Liu*
Affiliation:
- School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715,China
Keywords:
Artemisinin derivatives, drug design, ferroptosis, cancer, system Xc-/Gpx4 axis, molecular mechanism.
Abstract: Background: Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone compound with a special peroxide
bridge that is tightly linked to the cytotoxicity involved in fighting malaria and cancer. Artemisinin
and its derivatives (ARTs) are considered to be potential anticancer drugs that promote cancer cell
apoptosis, induce cell cycle arrest and autophagy, inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration. Additionally,
ARTs significantly increase intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in cancer cells,
which result in ferroptosis, a new form of cell death, depending on the ferritin concentration. Ferroptosis
is regarded as a cancer suppressor and as well as considered a new mechanism for cancer therapy.
Methods: The anticancer activities of ARTs and reference molecules were compared by literature
search and analysis. The latest research progress on ferroptosis was described, with a special focus on
the molecular mechanism of artemisinin-induced ferroptosis.
Results: Artemisinin derivatives, artemisinin-derived dimers, hybrids and artemisinin-transferrin
conjugates, could significantly improve anticancer activity, and their IC50 values are lower than those
of reference molecules such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel. The biological activities of linkers in dimers
and hybrids are important in the drug design processes. ARTs induce ferroptosis mainly by
triggering intracellular ROS production, promoting the lysosomal degradation of ferritin and regulating
the System Xc-/Gpx4 axis. Interestingly, ARTs also stimulate the feedback inhibition pathway.
Conclusion: Artemisinin and its derivatives could be used in the future as cancer therapies with
broader applications due to their induction of ferroptosis. Meanwhile, more attention should be paid
to the development of novel artemisinin-related drugs based on the mechanism of artemisinininduced
ferroptosis.