Parthenolide / GSH Cancer Research Results

PTL, Parthenolide: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Parthenolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone derived from the medicinal plant feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).
-Micheliolide (MCL) is converted readily from parthenolide (PTL), and has better stability and solubility than PTL
-Parthenolide is a natural compound used to treat migraines and arthritis and found to act as a potent NF-κB signaling inhibitor.

Main activities include:
-Inhibition of NF-κB Signaling:
-Induction of Oxidative Stress (ROS): oxidative stress can overwhelm the antioxidant defenses of the cancer cells, leading to cellular damage and death
-Parthenolide can interfere with STAT3 signaling, inhibiting the transcription of genes that favor tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis.
-Modulation of the MAPK/ERK Pathway:
-Impact on the JNK Pathway:
-Parthenolide has been shown to target cancer stem cells

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)


GSH, Glutathione: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione (GSH) is a thiol antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Decreased amounts of GSH and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in tissues are biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, detoxifying harmful substances, and supporting the immune system.
cancer cells can have elevated levels of glutathione, which may help them survive in the oxidative environment created by the immune response and chemotherapy. This can make cancer cells more resistant to treatment.
While glutathione can be obtained from certain foods (like fruits, vegetables, and meats), its absorption from supplements is debated. Some people take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or other precursors to boost glutathione levels, but the effects on cancer prevention or treatment are still being studied.
Depleting glutathione (GSH) to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a strategy that has been explored in cancer research and therapy.
Many cancer cells have altered redox states and may rely on GSH to survive. Increasing ROS levels can induce stress in these cells, potentially leading to cell death.
Certain drugs and compounds can deplete GSH levels. For example, agents like buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibit the synthesis of GSH, leading to its depletion.
Cancer cells tend to exhibit higher levels of intracellular GSH, possibly as an adaptive response to a higher metabolism and thus higher steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

"...intracellular glutathione (GSH) exhibits an astounding antioxidant activity in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)..."
"Cancer cells have a high level of GSH compared to normal cells."
"...cancer cells are affluent with high antioxidant levels, especially with GSH, whose appearance at an elevated concentration of ∼10 mM (10 times less in normal cells) detoxifies the cancer cells." "Therefore, GSH depletion can be assumed to be the key strategy to amplify the oxidative stress in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of cancer cells by fruitful cancer therapy."

The loss of GSH is broadly known to be directly related to the apoptosis progression.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1996- PTL,    Critical roles of intracellular thiols and calcium in parthenolide-induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells
- in-vitro, CRC, COLO205
Apoptosis↑, GSH↓, ROS↑, Ca+2↑, GRP78/BiP↑, ER Stress↑, eff↓, eff↑, Thiols↓,
1989- PTL,    Parthenolide and Its Soluble Analogues: Multitasking Compounds with Antitumor Properties
- Review, Var, NA
eff↑, NF-kB↓, STAT↓, ROS↑, Inflam↓, Wnt↓, TCF-4↓, LEF1↓, GSH↓, MMP↓, Casp↑, eff↓, CSCs↓,
1988- PTL,    Parthenolide Induces ROS-Mediated Apoptosis in Lymphoid Malignancies
- in-vitro, lymphoma, NCI-H929
NF-kB↓, ROS↑, GSH↓, MMP↓, GPx1↓,
1987- PTL,  Rad,    A NADPH oxidase dependent redox signaling pathway mediates the selective radiosensitization effect of parthenolide in prostate cancer cells
- in-vitro, Pca, PC3 - in-vitro, Nor, PrEC
selectivity↑, RadioS↑, ROS↑, *ROS∅, NADPH↑, Trx↓, PI3K↑, Akt↑, p‑FOXO3↓, SOD2↓, Catalase↓, radioP↑, *NADPH∅, *GSH↑, *GSH/GSSG↑, *NRF2↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 4 of 4

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 4

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

Catalase↓, 1,   GPx1↓, 1,   GSH↓, 3,   ROS↑, 4,   SOD2↓, 1,   Thiols↓, 1,   Trx↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

MMP↓, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

NADPH↑, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↑, 1,   Apoptosis↑, 1,   Casp↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

ER Stress↑, 1,   GRP78/BiP↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

CSCs↓, 1,   p‑FOXO3↓, 1,   PI3K↑, 1,   STAT↓, 1,   TCF-4↓, 1,   Wnt↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

Ca+2↑, 1,   LEF1↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

Inflam↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 2,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

eff↓, 2,   eff↑, 2,   RadioS↑, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

radioP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 29

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

GSH↑, 1,   GSH/GSSG↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS∅, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

NADPH∅, 1,  
Total Targets: 5

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSH, Glutathione
4 Parthenolide
1 Radiotherapy/Radiation
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:8  Target#:137  State#:%  Dir#:%
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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