Xie Jiahao, Su Yue, Shang Wenzhong, Wu Yanfang, He Junjia, Li Ting, Shen Yeyu, Zhang Youni, Tong Xiangmin, Bian Qiong
The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
Apoptosis. 2025 Feb;30(1-2):488-505. doi: 10.1007/s10495-024-02059-9. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
Copper (cu) is an essential micronutrient required for numerous metabolic processes. It plays a crucial role in cellular respiration by participating in the electron transport chain and facilitating numerous biological reactions. Various diseases, including cancer, demonstrate localized elevation of copper levels and/or alterations in the overall distribution of copper. Modulating local or systemic copper levels as a novel therapeutic approach for treating and ameliorating diseases has emerged as a prominent trend in disease management, particularly in the realm of cancer therapy, which is currently under investigation. The objective of this review is to offer a thorough examination of copper metabolism in both physiological and pathological contexts. Specifically, it delves into how copper ions can effectively target and stimulate tumor cell death via the process known as cuproptosis in cancer patients. Furthermore, this review explores the utilization of three categories of anticancer medications (copper ion carriers, copper complexes, and copper chelating agents) pertaining to copper metabolism within the realm of cancer therapy, elucidating on the distinct mechanisms through which they exert their effects.
铜（Cu）是众多代谢过程所需的必需微量营养素。它通过参与电子传递链并促进众多生物反应，在细胞呼吸中发挥关键作用。包括癌症在内的各种疾病都表现出铜水平的局部升高和/或铜整体分布的改变。调节局部或全身铜水平作为治疗和改善疾病的一种新的治疗方法，已成为疾病管理中的一个突出趋势，特别是在目前正在研究的癌症治疗领域。本综述的目的是全面考察生理和病理情况下的铜代谢。具体而言，它深入探讨了在癌症患者中，铜离子如何通过称为铜死亡的过程有效地靶向并刺激肿瘤细胞死亡。此外，本综述探讨了癌症治疗领域中与铜代谢相关的三类抗癌药物（铜离子载体、铜配合物和铜螯合剂）的应用，阐明了它们发挥作用的不同机制。
