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| Auranofin — an orally administered gold(I) coordination complex (gold–phosphine–thiolate “thiosugar” drug) originally approved as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis and widely studied for repurposing as a redox-targeted anticancer and anti-infective agent. It is a small-molecule metallodrug whose pharmacology is typically tracked via blood/plasma gold concentrations because intact auranofin is rapidly transformed and not reliably detected in blood. Standard abbreviation(s): AF (auranofin); primary target shorthand: TrxR/TxNRD (thioredoxin reductase). Primary mechanisms (ranked):
Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral absorption is incomplete; clinical PK is commonly described as ~25% of the gold content absorbed. Gold is highly protein-bound and exhibits prolonged retention/long terminal half-life, so effective exposure depends strongly on dose and dosing duration. Because “gold levels” are the main measurable surrogate, cross-study comparisons should specify matrix (whole blood vs plasma) and timing (steady-state vs short course). In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Many oncology cell studies use ~0.5–5 µM AF. Human short-course data at 6 mg/day for 7 days report plasma gold on the order of ~0.1–0.3 µg/mL (roughly sub-µM to ~1–1.5 µM range when expressed as gold equivalents), meaning lower in-vitro ranges can overlap clinically observed exposure surrogates, while higher µM regimens may exceed typical oral exposures unless higher doses/longer courses or formulation changes are used. Clinical evidence status: Approved for rheumatoid arthritis (historical DMARD use) but oncology use remains investigational. Multiple early-phase repurposing trials exist across hematologic and solid tumors; several completed studies have limited publicly posted outcomes, and there is no established standard-of-care anticancer indication. Pathways: 1.Thioredoxin Reductase (TrxR) Inhibition. - Most widely recognized for potently inhibiting TrxR. 2.Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Oxidative Stress. 3.MMP depolarization, release of cytochrome c 4.Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) 5.Inhibition of Pro-survival Pathways (e.g., NF-κB Signaling) -ic50 for cancer typically 1-3uM, normal cell 5-10uM or higher. -Several studies animal testing antitumor efficacy have used doses in the region of 5–8 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection or oral administration. -Auranofin’s anticancer activity is often linked to its inhibition of thioredoxin reductase, leading to increased oxidative stress. Mechanistic axes for Auranofin (Cancer vs Normal)
TSF legend: P: 0–30 min | R: 30 min–3 hr | G: >3 hr |
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| Destruction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, which is widely regarded as one of the earliest events in the process of cell apoptosis. Mitochondria are organelles within eukaryotic cells that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy molecule used by the cell. For this reason, the mitochondrion is sometimes referred to as “the powerhouse of the cell”. Mitochondria produce ATP through process of cellular respiration—specifically, aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen. The citric acid cycle, or Krebs cycle, takes place in the mitochondria. The mitochondrial membrane potential is widely used in assessing mitochondrial function as it relates to the mitochondrial capacity of ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial membrane potential is a reliable indicator of mitochondrial health. In cancer cells, ΔΨm is often decreased, which can lead to changes in cellular metabolism, increased glycolysis, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and altered cell death pathways. The membrane of malignant mitochondria is hyperpolarized (−220 mV) in comparison to their healthy counterparts (−160 mV), which facilitates the penetration of positively charged molecules to the cancer cells mitochondria. The MMP is a critical indicator of mitochondrial function, directly reflecting the organelle's capacity to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. |
| 5472- | AF, | Auranofin induces apoptosis and necrosis in HeLa cells via oxidative stress and glutathione depletion |
| - | in-vitro, | Cerv, | HeLa |
| 5468- | AF, | The gold complex auranofin: new perspectives for cancer therapy |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
| 5459- | AF, | Auranofin Induces Lethality Driven by Reactive Oxygen Species in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells |
| - | in-vitro, | Ovarian, | NA |
| 1459- | SFN, | AF, | Auranofin Enhances Sulforaphane-Mediated Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Hep3B Cells through Inactivation of the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway |
| - | in-vitro, | Liver, | Hep3B | - | in-vitro, | Liver, | HepG2 |
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
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