Abstract
Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO; eflornithine) is an irreversible suicide inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase which is involved in polyamine synthesis. Polyamines are important for cell survival, thus DFMO was studied as an anticancer agent and as a chemoprevention agent. DFMO exhibited mainly cytostatic activity and had single agent efficacy as well as activity in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs for some cancers and leukemias. Herewith, we summarize the current knowledge of the anticancer and chemopreventive properties of DFMO and assess the status of clinical trials.
Keywords:
chemoprevention; clinical trial; colorectal cancer; difluoromethylornithine; glioma; pancreatic cancer.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
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Eflornithine / pharmacology
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Eflornithine / therapeutic use*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Humans
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Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Neoplasms / metabolism
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Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors
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Eflornithine