Artesunate: In addition to the ROS MOA spoken about already, many other papers point to multiple additional MOA and as is typical there are likely these and more.
- As mentioned above it is known to be a chemo and radiosensitizing agent.
- Additionally, our experience has been that it accentuates HDIVC when used in series as an IV agent.
- It has been shown to be antiangiogenic.
- It has multiple immunologic potentials including NfKb, TH1/2 balance, etc
- It triggers apoptosis via multiple MOA including DNA oxidation, mROS surges etc etc and cytostasis via alterations in cell transit proteins.
- There are the obvious parallels to it’s ability to kill more than plasmodia (HHV viri, some parasites and bacteria etc) and the benefit that may add to cancer Tx.
I have over 100 papers in my background data but if one wishes the “quickest” summaries re ART and CA / MOA I suggest these three:
ART Summary References:
Henry C. Lai & Narendra P. Singh & Tomikazu Sasaki. Development of artemisinin compounds for cancer treatment.Invest New Drugs. DOI 10.1007/s10637-012-9873-z
Wai M. Liu, Andrew M. Gravett and Angus G. Dalgleish. The antimalarial agent artesunate possesses anticancer properties that can be enhanced by combination strategies. Int. J. Cancer: 128, 1471–1480 (2011) Maria P. Crespo-Ortiz and Ming Q.Wei.
Antitumor Activity of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives: From a Well-Known Antimalarial Agent to a Potential Anticancer Drug. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Volume 2012, Article ID 247597, 18 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/247597
