Anti-tumour activity of iron chelators and copper chelators: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

Iron and copper are the essential trace elements in human body. The contents of iron and copper in neoplastic cells are much higher than those in the normal ones. The deprivation of excess iron and copper in tumor cells can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, DNA synthesis, the fomiation of vessels and generate active oxygen species, which may induce cellular injury. Therefore, iron chelators and copper chelatois as important anti-tumor agents are increasingly attracting our attention. In this parper, the recent advances of iron chelators and copper chelators are reviewed. © 2006 Editorial office of Foreign Medical Sciences.