Title:Anticancer Activity of Polyether Ionophore-Salinomycin
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Author(s): Michał Antoszczak and Adam Huczyński
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Anticancer activity, Apoptosis, Cell proliferation, CSC, Polyether ionophores, Sensitizing effect.
Abstract: Since the discovery of unusual anti-tumor activity of natural polyether antibiotic – Salinomycin, this
compound, along with its derivatives, has been intensively studied against different human cancer cells, both in vivo
and in vitro. Salinomycin has shown strong inhibition activity against the proliferation process of many different
cancer cells, including multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer cells, as well as cancer stem cells (CSCs), i.e. leukemic
stem cells, colon carcinoma stem cells, prostate cancer stem cells and many others. Additionally, the application
of Salinomycin has been proved to enhance the anti-cancer effect of radio- and chemotherapy. Preliminary clinical
studies have shown tumor regression and only transient acute side effects after application of Salinomycin. Up to
now, major efforts have been devoted to elucidate the biological mechanisms of anti-tumor activity of Salinomycin
and it is expected that the results may provide new therapeutic strategies based on biological modulation of
Salinomycin activity. This review is focused on and describes the possible role of Salinomycin in cancer therapy and gives an overview
of its properties.
