Arsenic trioxide: insights into its evolution to an anticancer agent.

Arsenic trioxide: insights into its evolution to an anticancer agent. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2018 Feb 02;: Authors: Hoonjan M, Jadhav V, Bhatt P Abstract Arsenic and its various forms have been in use in ancient Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years. Arsenicals have gained importance for having remedial effects for various diseases from syphilis to cancer thus highlighting its role as a therapeutic agent even though it has been labelled as a potential 'poison'. The ability of arsenic, specifically arsenic trioxide, to treat acute promyelocytic leukaemia has radically changed the perception of this poison and has been the main factor for the re-emergence of this candidate to Western medicine for the treatment of leukaemia and other solid tumours. This review highlights the glorious history of arsenic and its various forms with major emphasis on arsenic trioxide as a therapeutic agent. The mechanism of action, pathogenesis, pharmacokinetic profile, safety concerns, ongoing clinical trials and various new forms of arsenic trioxide are discussed. The review also outlines the therapeutic ability of this drug, discusses the latest developments and recent investigations and potential advancement of arsenic trioxide as nanoformulations that has made it emerge as a potential remedial agent. PMID: 29396610 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry : JBIC - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: J Biol Inorg Chem Source Type: research