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Teratogens as anti-cancer drugs.
- Source :
-
Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) [Cell Cycle] 2005 Nov; Vol. 4 (11), pp. 1518-21. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Nov 26. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- Most anticancer drugs are teratogens, merely because they target vital cellular functions. Conversely, some plants produce agents that intentionally target embryonic signaling pathways, precisely to cause birth defects if pregnant animals eat such plants. Cyclopamine, a teratogen produced by a flowering plant, inhibits the Hh/Gli pathway, causing developmental defects such as cyclopia (one eye in the middle of the face). In theory, selective teratogens may suppress cancer cells that reactivate embryonic pathways, while sparing most normal cells. I discuss the potential (and limits) of teratogens in cancer therapy, linking diverse topics from morning sickness of pregnancy, embryonic pathways and poisonous plants to the mechanism of action of anticancer teratogens and their combinations with less selective cytotoxic agents.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Cytotoxins therapeutic use
Embryo, Mammalian pathology
Embryo, Mammalian physiology
Female
Humans
Maternal-Fetal Exchange drug effects
Maternal-Fetal Exchange physiology
Morning Sickness drug therapy
Plants, Toxic physiology
Pregnancy
Signal Transduction drug effects
Signal Transduction physiology
Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use
Embryo, Mammalian drug effects
Teratogens pharmacology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1551-4005
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16258270
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4161/cc.4.11.2208