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Upgrade of an old drug: Auranofin in innovative cancer therapies to overcome drug resistance and to increase drug effectiveness
Author(s) -
Gamberi Tania,
Chiappetta Giovanni,
Fiaschi Tania,
Modesti Alessandra,
Sorbi Flavia,
Magherini Francesca
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
medicinal research reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.868
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1098-1128
pISSN - 0198-6325
DOI - 10.1002/med.21872
Subject(s) - auranofin , drug repositioning , drug , pharmacology , drug discovery , thioredoxin reductase , in vivo , drug development , medicine , biology , bioinformatics , rheumatoid arthritis , biochemistry , thioredoxin , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology
Auranofin is an oral gold(I) compound, initially developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, Auranofin is under investigation for oncological application within a drug repurposing plan due to the relevant antineoplastic activity observed both in vitro and in vivo tumor models. In this review, we analysed studies in which Auranofin was used as a single drug or in combination with other molecules to enhance their anticancer activity or to overcome chemoresistance. The analysis of different targets/pathways affected by this drug in different cancer types has allowed us to highlight several interesting targets and effects of Auranofin besides the already well‐known inhibition of thioredoxin reductase. Among these targets, inhibitory‐κB kinase, deubiquitinates, protein kinase C iota have been frequently suggested. To rationalize the effects of Auranofin by a system biology‐like approach, we exploited transcriptomic data obtained from a wide range of cell models, extrapolating the data deposited in the Connectivity Maps website and we attempted to provide a general conclusion and discussed the major points that need further investigation.