Progress in the study of anti-tumor mechanism of artemisinins

Recently, PLoS One published online the research paper dihydroartemisinin experts its antigenicity through refining cellular iron viatrans error receiver-1 by Wang Hui research group, Institute of nutrition, Shanghai Institute of life sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences This study reveals a new mechanism of dihydroartemisinin, a kind of artemisinin, in antitumor activity With Chinese scientists winning the 2011 International Lasco Clinical Medicine Award for their research on artemisinin drugs, artemisinin and its derivatives once again become the world-renowned star molecule, among which dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is the main metabolite and the most active derivative of artemisinin In recent years, Wang Hui's research group has carried out a number of studies on the anti-tumor function and mechanism of artemisinin compounds It has been found that artemisinin and its derivatives have anti-cancer effect on ovarian cancer and liver cancer and its mechanism has been explored In this study, Ba Qian and other researchers found that DHA can cause the lack of iron in tumor cells, reduce the absorption of iron, interfere with the existing balance of iron in cells, and this change has nothing to do with oxidative damage Further study found that DHA can reduce the level of TfR1 on cell membrane, regulate it through lipid raft mediated endocytosis, weaken the absorption of iron, and kill tumor cells The results will provide a theoretical basis for the development of artemisinin and iron targeted antitumor drugs The research project was supported by NSFC, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.