Disulfiram / p65 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


p65, RelA: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
P65, also known as RelA, is a subunit of the NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) transcription factor complex. NF-κB plays a crucial role in regulating immune response, inflammation, and cell survival.
Due to its role in cancer progression, p65 and the NF-κB pathway are considered potential therapeutic targets. Inhibitors of NF-κB signaling are being explored in preclinical and clinical studies as potential cancer treatments.
Many studies have reported that p65 is overexpressed in various types of cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers.
In some cancers, elevated p65 levels correlate with higher grades of tumors and advanced stages of disease.

"RELA proto-oncogene, NF-κB subunit." It encodes the p65 protein, which is a central component of the NF‑κB transcription factor complex.
-Chronic activation of RELA and the NF‑κB pathway is frequently associated with cancer progression, promoting inflammation-driven tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis.
-RELA interacts with other oncogenic signaling networks (for example, STAT3 and MAPK pathways), further integrating environmental signals that favor cancer progression.

RELA (p65) is a critical subunit of the NF‑κB transcription factor complex, involved in the regulation of genes that control inflammation, cell survival, and proliferation. In the context of cancer, aberrant activation and overexpression of RELA are frequently associated with aggressive tumor behavior, therapy resistance, and poorer patient outcomes in cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others.

RELA emerges as a potential key contributor to the suppression of glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, and ATP production in cancer cells. (RELA knockdown signifcantly reduced the tumorigenic.
potential of various pancreatic cancer cell lines).


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
5006- DSF,  Cu,    Disulfiram targeting lymphoid malignant cell lines via ROS-JNK activation as well as Nrf2 and NF-kB pathway inhibition
- vitro+vivo, lymphoma, NA
TumCD↑, TumCP↑, Apoptosis↑, NRF2↓, ROS↑, p‑JNK↑, p65↓, eff↓, NF-kB↓,

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

NRF2↓, 1,   ROS↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Apoptosis↑, 1,   p‑JNK↑, 1,   TumCD↑, 1,  

Migration

TumCP↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

NF-kB↓, 1,   p65↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

eff↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 9

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: p65, RelA
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#:238  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

Home Page