(R)-Edelfosine is a synthetic lipid agent belonging to a class of compounds with antitumor and antiparasitic activities[1]. (R)-Edelfosine can induce apoptosis-like cell death in tumor cells by targeting FOF1-ATP synthase on mitochondria and lipid rafts[2]. (R)-Edelfosine also exhibits antileishmanial and antischistosomal activities[3]. (R)-Edelfosine acts as a novel HIV-1 latency-reversing agent[4].
In vitro, treatment of prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, PC3, and DU145) with (R)-Edelfosine (5–30μM) for 24–72 hours leads to accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress, significantly promoting caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage, and triggering apoptosis[5]. Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H157, NCI-H520, NCI-H522) with (R)-Edelfosine (2.6–100μM) for 24–72 hours inhibits phospholipase C-B1 activity, induces G2/M phase arrest and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation, and significantly promotes apoptosis and necrosis[6].
In vivo, daily oral administration of (R)-Edelfosine (30mg/kg) starting from day 5 after tail vein injection of 435-Lung-eGFP-CMV/Luc metastatic cancer cells until week 12 in nude mice significantly inhibits metastatic tumor colonization in the lungs and brain, while prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice[7]. Oral administration of (R)-Edelfosine (5–20mg/kg) three times per week in an orthotopic LNCaP cell xenograft mouse model, combined with androgen deprivation (bilateral orchiectomy), significantly suppresses tumor volume growth[8].
References:
[1] Teixeira SF, Rodrigues CP, Costa CJS, et al. Edelfosine: An Antitumor Drug Prototype. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2018;18(6):865-874.
[2] Gajate C, Mollinedo F. Lipid rafts, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in the antitumor action of the alkylphospholipid analog edelfosine. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2014 May;14(4):509-27.
[3] Tanzifi A, Khoshi A, Emami S, et al. The effect of edelfosine on GRA1 and MIC3 expressions in acute toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Res. 2020 Apr;119(4):1371-1380.
[4] Rai M, Rawat K, Muhammadi MK, et al. Edelfosine reactivates latent HIV-1 reservoirs in myeloid cells through activation of NF-κB and AP1 pathway. Virology. 2022 Sep;574:57-64.
[5] Dakir EH, Gajate C, Mollinedo F, et al. Antitumor activity of alkylphospholipid edelfosine in prostate cancer models and endoplasmic reticulum targeting. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Nov;167:115436.
[6] Shafer SH, Williams CL, et al. Non-small and small cell lung carcinoma cell lines exhibit cell type-specific sensitivity to edelfosine-induced cell death and different cell line-specific responses to edelfosine treatment. Int J Oncol. 2003 Aug;23(2):389-400.
[7] Alonso-Pérez V, Hernández V, Calzado MA, et al. Suppression of metastatic organ colonization and antiangiogenic activity of the orally bioavailable lipid raft-targeted alkylphospholipid edelfosine. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024 Feb;171:116149.
[8] Udayakumar TS, Stoyanova R, Shareef MM, et al. Edelfosine Promotes Apoptosis in Androgen-Deprived Prostate Tumors by Increasing ATF3 and Inhibiting Androgen Receptor Activity. Mol Cancer Ther. 2016 Jun;15(6):1353-63.