Targeting Iron in Colon Cancer via Glycoconjugation of Thiosemicarbazone Prochelators

This invention is a novel strategy to create iron chelators by utilizing a disulfide redox switch to connect carbohydrate moieties to a thiosemicarbazone iron-binding unit. This increases expression of glucose transporters in colorectal cancer cells and greater toxicity to cancer cells.

Background:
An increased amount of iron in colorectal cancer cells is a general characteristic of malignancy, and higher expression of glucose transporter is related to poorer prognosis. Iron chelators are currently marred with poor selectivity and resulting systematic toxicity as well as side effects.

Applications:

• Drug companies
• Biotechnology companies
• Diagnostic assay companies

Advantages:

• Provides a novel pathway for pharmaceutical companies to treat colorectal cancer
• Provides greater selectivity and toxicity towards target cancer cells
• Provides greater water solubility