Cancer Biology Division, School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, Campus-11, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India.
Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2021;21(4):416-427. doi: 10.2174/1871520620666200721123046.
Quinacrine (QC) is a tricyclic compound and a derivative of 9-aminoacridine. It has been widely used to treat malaria and other parasitic diseases since the last century. Interestingly, studies have revealed that it also displays anti-cancer activities. Here, we have discussed the anti-cancer mechanism of QC along with its potentiality to specifically target cancer stem cells. The anti-cancer action of this drug includes DNA intercalation, inhibition of DNA repair mechanism, prevention of cellular growth, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of DNA and RNA polymerase activity, induction of autophagy, promotion of apoptosis, deregulation of cell signaling in cancer cells and cancer stem cells, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, we have also emphasized on the synergistic effect of this drug with other potent chemotherapeutic agents and mentioned its different applications in anti-cancer therapy.
盐酸奎宁（QC）是一种三环化合物，也是 9-氨基吖啶的衍生物。自上个世纪以来，它已被广泛用于治疗疟疾和其他寄生虫病。有趣的是，研究表明它还具有抗癌活性。在这里，我们讨论了 QC 的抗癌机制及其特异性靶向癌症干细胞的潜力。这种药物的抗癌作用包括 DNA 插入、抑制 DNA 修复机制、阻止细胞生长、细胞周期停滞、抑制 DNA 和 RNA 聚合酶活性、诱导自噬、促进细胞凋亡、调节癌细胞和癌症干细胞中的细胞信号转导、抑制转移和血管生成。此外，我们还强调了该药物与其他有效化疗药物的协同作用，并提到了它在癌症治疗中的不同应用。
