| Rank |
Pathway / Target Axis |
Direction |
Primary Effect |
Notes / Cancer Relevance |
Ref |
| 1 |
NF-κB DNA-binding (p65/RelA Cys38 alkylation) |
↓ NF-κB DNA binding |
Suppresses pro-survival transcription |
Direct mechanism: parthenolide inhibits NF-κB most likely by alkylating p65 at Cys38, reducing DNA binding |
(ref) |
| 2 |
Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1 / TrxR2) |
↓ TrxR activity |
Redox buffering collapse |
Parthenolide directly targets TrxR1/TrxR2 (selenocysteine-containing enzymes) and inhibits function |
(ref) |
| 3 |
ROS accumulation (superoxide / oxidative stress) |
↑ ROS |
Upstream cytotoxic trigger |
Same TrxR-targeting study shows TrxR inhibition shifts redox state and drives ROS accumulation leading to apoptosis |
(ref) |
| 4 |
Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm) |
↓ ΔΨm |
Mitochondrial dysfunction |
Parthenolide increases ROS and is reported with a combined ΔΨm reduction accompanying apoptosis across cancer cell lines |
(ref) |
| 5 |
Intrinsic apoptosis (caspase-3 activation) |
↑ caspase-3 |
Programmed cell death |
Parthenolide treatment associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-3 activation in cancer cells |
(ref) |
| 6 |
STAT3 signaling (via JAK2 covalent inhibition) |
↓ STAT3 phosphorylation/signaling |
Reduced survival / migration programs |
Parthenolide covalently modifies JAK2 cysteines, suppressing kinase activity and inhibiting STAT3 signaling |
(ref) |
| 7 |
AML stem cell targeting (LSC vulnerability; regimen context) |
↓ AML stem cell survival |
Stem/progenitor depletion |
Parthenolide-based regimen (parthenolide + 2DG + temsirolimus) demonstrates potent targeting of AML stem cells |
(ref) |
| 8 |
In vivo anti-tumor effect (xenograft; parthenolide analog evidence) |
↓ tumor growth |
Demonstrated efficacy (derivative) |
Note: this is for an orally bioavailable parthenolide analog (DMAPT), not native parthenolide |
(ref) |