Basic and clinical researches on antitumor effects of antimalarial artemisinin and its derivatives
Yao Lang · Chinese Journal of New Drugs and Clinical Remedies · 2008
Antimalarial artemisinin and its derivatives(Art)possess various kinds of pharmacological activities,the correlative clinical researches are gradually carrying on along with a lot of antineoplastic basic studies.Large number of studies in vitro and in vivo has showned that Art can inhibit or kill tumor cells simultaneously with inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells,inhibiting angiogenesis and blocking the cell cycle. They can also delay or reverse the multi-drug resistance(MDR)of tumor cells.Moreover,if used with iron preparation or in combination with transferrin,Art can enhance the selective inhibitory effects to tumor cells. The clinical exploration suggested that Art was probably an antitumor agent or adjuvant in the treatment of tumors with low toxicity,and no cross-resistance and a synergistic effect with other traditional antitumor drugs. Strengthening the clinical researches of Art is needed for further clearing the nature,scope,dosage,and adverse effects in the antitumor treatment.