Open AccessRepurposing the anti-malarial drug, quinacrine: new anti-colitis properties
Author(s) -
Alexander A. Chumanevich,
Erin E. Witalison,
Anusha Chaparala,
Anastasiya A. Chumanevich,
Prakash Nagarkatti,
Lorne J. Hofseth
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oncotarget
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.373
H-Index - 127
ISSN - 1949-2553
DOI - 10.18632/oncotarget.10608
Subject(s) - medicine , ulcerative colitis , colitis , inflammatory bowel disease , colorectal cancer , rheumatoid arthritis , drug , cancer , pharmacology , disease , gastroenterology , immunology
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in 8-10 years after disease onset. Current colitis treatment strategies do not offer a cure for the disease, but only treat the symptoms with limited success and dangerous side-effects. Also, there is no preventive treatment for either UC or colorectal cancer. Quinacrine is an anti-malarial drug with versatile use in the treatment of diseases involving inflammatory response such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. It also has putative anti-cancer effect. Quinacrine's anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties, and anti-tumorigenic properties make it a potential small molecule preventive agent for both UC and associated colorectal cancer.