Disulfiram / SOD1 Cancer Research Results

DSF, Disulfiram: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Disulfiram is a synthetic small-molecule drug best known for its use in the treatment of chronic alcohol use disorder. It is a thiuram disulfide compound with the chemical formula C₁₀H₂₀N₂S₄ and acts primarily as an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibitor.
Main Actions:
-Potent copper-dependent pro-oxidant
-Targets ALDH⁺ cancer stem cells
-Strong clinical repurposing interest

Key pathways
-Cu-mediated redox cycling
-Proteasome inhibition
-Mitochondrial ROS

Chemo relevance
-Often synergistic
-Highly mechanism-dependent
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 Metal chelation / Disulfiram–Cu complex formation ↑ DSF–Cu complex formation ↔ limited formation Driver Copper-dependent cytotoxic chemistry Elevated copper in cancer cells enables formation of cytotoxic DSF–Cu complexes; this is the initiating event for most anticancer effects
2 Proteasome / p97–NPL4 axis ↓ proteasome function; ↑ proteotoxic stress ↔ minimal disruption Driver Protein homeostasis collapse DSF–Cu disrupts protein degradation pathways, leading to accumulation of misfolded proteins and stress signaling
3 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (metal-dependent) ↔ buffered Secondary Oxidative stress amplification ROS rise follows DSF–Cu redox cycling and proteotoxic stress; not the primary trigger
4 Mitochondrial integrity / intrinsic apoptosis ↓ ΔΨm; ↑ caspase activation ↔ preserved Secondary Execution of cell death Mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis occur downstream of proteostasis and redox stress
5 ALDH activity (ALDH1A1 / stemness) ↓ ALDH activity ↓ ALDH (clinically tolerated) Secondary Cancer stem-like cell targeting ALDH inhibition preferentially impacts cancer stem-like populations; normal cells tolerate inhibition at therapeutic exposure
6 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation ↓ inflammatory NF-κB tone Secondary Suppression of survival transcription NF-κB inhibition reflects upstream proteotoxic and redox stress rather than direct targeting
7 Cell cycle progression ↓ proliferation / ↑ arrest ↔ largely spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth control Growth inhibition reflects impaired protein turnover and metabolic stress
8 Apoptosis / non-apoptotic death ↑ apoptosis or proteotoxic death ↔ protected Phenotypic Threshold-dependent cell death Cell death modality depends on copper availability and stress magnitude


SOD1, superoxide dismutase 1: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) is a key antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide radicals into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.

In several cancers including breast, lung, HCC, and others, alterations in SOD1 expression have been observed, reflecting its role in managing oxidative stress.
• Elevated SOD1 levels are sometimes associated with aggressive tumor behavior, therapy resistance, or decreased apoptosis due to enhanced ROS detoxification.
• Conversely, the protective role of antioxidants can also mitigate oxidative mutation loads, leading to context-dependent and occasionally favorable outcomes.

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), increased SOD1 levels have been reported in some cohorts, potentially as a mechanism to cope with high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
5012- DSF,  Cu,    Advancing Cancer Therapy with Copper/Disulfiram Nanomedicines and Drug Delivery Systems
ROS↑, ALDH↓, TumCP↓, CSCs↓, angioG↓, TumMeta↓, DNAdam↑, Proteasome↓, SOD1↓, GSR↓, ox-GSSG↑, GSH/GSSG↓, MMP↓, Akt↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, NF-kB↓, CSCs↓, MAPK↓, angioG↓, DrugR↓, EMT↓, Vim↓, BioAv↑, eff↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

GSH/GSSG↓, 1,   GSR↓, 1,   ox-GSSG↑, 1,   ROS↑, 1,   SOD1↓, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

MMP↓, 1,  

Cell Death

Akt↓, 1,   MAPK↓, 1,   Proteasome↓, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair

DNAdam↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

ALDH↓, 1,   CSCs↓, 2,   EMT↓, 1,  

Migration

TumCP↓, 1,   TumMeta↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

angioG↓, 2,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

NF-kB↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

BioAv↑, 1,   DrugR↓, 1,   eff↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 22

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: SOD1, superoxide dismutase 1
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#:387  Target#:1052  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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