Multifunctional Pt(IV) Prodrug Candidates Featuring the Carboplatin Core and Deferoxamine

The synergistic combination between the anticancer drug carboplatin and the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) served as a foundation for the development of novel multifunctional prodrugs. Hence, five platinum(IV) complexes, featuring...

The iron chelator deferoxamine decreases myeloma cell survival

Objective This study evaluated serum ferritin (SF) levels and investigated their relationships with various clinical markers in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Furthermore, the effects and molecular mechanism of deferoxamine (DFO) in myeloma cells were studied. Methods Clinical data from 84 patients with MM were collected to evaluate SF content and its relationship with several important clinical parameters. MM1S and MM1R myeloma cells were chosen to investigate the effects of iron and DFO on cell survival and apoptosis. Results Increased SF levels were detected in newly diagnosed patients, especially those with stage III disease or the κ isotype. SF content was positively correlated with β2-microglobulin, interleukin-6, and lactate dehydrogenase expression. Furthermore, patients with progressive or relapsed disease had higher SF levels. Importantly, iron chelation with DFO efficiently inhibited myeloma cell survival and accelerated apoptosis by regulating apoptosis-related genes. Conclusions The importance of SF for MM was highlighted. Additionally, it is suggested that DFO may be a good therapeutic option for MM.

A Novel Star Like Eight-Arm Polyethylene Glycol-Deferoxamine Conjugate for Iron Overload Therapy

The traditional iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) has been widely used in the treatment of iron overload disease. However, DFO has congenital disadvantages, including a very short circular time and non-negligible toxicity. Herein, we designed a novel multi-arm conjugate for prolonging DFO duration in vivo and reducing cytotoxicity. The star-like 8-arm-polyethylene glycol (8-arm-PEG) was used as the macromolecular scaffold, and DFO molecules were bound to the terminals of the PEG branches via amide bonds. The conjugates displayed comparable iron binding ability to the free DFO. Furthermore, these macromolecule conjugates could significantly reduce the cytotoxicity of the free DFO, and showed satisfactory iron clearance capability in the iron overloaded macrophage RAW 246.7. The plasma half-life of the 8-arm-PEG-DFO conjugate was about 190 times than that of DFO when applied to an intravenously administered rat model. In conclusion, research indicated that these star-like PEG-based conjugates could be promising candidates as long circulating, less toxic iron chelators.

EFFECT OF IRON OVERLOAD AND IRON CHELATORS ON ANTI-MÜLLERIAN HORMONE LEVEL IN EGYPTIAN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT β-THALASSEMIA

Objective: This work aims to determine the effect of iron overload on serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in females subjected to transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia by measuring serum ferritin and to investigate the effects of iron chelation therapy including oral deferiprone and subcutaneous deferoxamine in the management of transfusion-related iron overload together with reproductive function.Methods: 90 female patients with thalassemia major (TM), thalassemia intermedia (TI) and thalassemia minor (T minor) were selected to investigate AMH by ELISA and ferritin by IRMA.Results: Serum AMH level was lower in female patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia than in T minor also, Ferritin was 25 fold more in TM compared to T minor (3088.0±2497.6 ng/ml vs. 120.3±36.2 ng/ml). There was significant negative correlation of AMH with ferritin in TM (r =-0.949; P<0.001*), in TI (r =-0.378; P =0.039*) and in T minor (r =-0.754; P<0.001*). The iron chelator, deferoxamine had significantly higher ferritin and lower AMH in TM and TI than deferiprone.Conclusion: the results demonstrated that females with TM and TI were found to have lower serum AMH levels than T minor and inversely related to the serum ferritin levels in all thalassemic groups. Also, it demonstrated that deferiprone was more efficient than deferoxamine in removing excess iron and reduced the deleterious effect of excess iron to the reproductive system, which leads to fertility preservation of female patients with transfusion–dependent β-thalassemia.Keywords: Anti-müllerian hormone, Ferritin, Iron overload, β-thalassemia, Deferoxamine, Deferiprone.