Metal-based glycoconjugates and their potential in targeted anticancer chemotherapy

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2016-04-07Author
Pettenuzzo, Andrea
Pigot, Rebecca
Ronconi, Luca
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A. Pettenuzzo, R. Pigot, L. Ronconi* (2015) 'Metal-based glycoconjugates and their potential in targeted anticancer chemotherapy' Metallodrugs, 1 :36-61.
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Abstract
Glucose is a key source of energy and an essential
nutrient for cell growth. Rapidly dividing cancer cells are
well-known to require more nutrients and energy than
normal ones to sustain their higher proliferation rates,
and glucose is no exception. Therefore, the biomolecules
involved in the promotion/regulation of the glycolytic flux
may be regarded as potential targets for tackling tumor
progression. Among all, glucose transporters (GLUTs),
devoted to the recognition and cellular internalization
of glucose, are largely overexpressed in tumors, thus
indicating glycolysis as the major anaerobic glucose
metabolism. Accordingly, such increased demand of
glucose by fast-proliferating cancer cells makes it very
attractive to selectively target tumor sites. In particular,
tailored glucose-like substrates can be conjugated
to chemotherapeutics (including metal-containing
anticancer agents) so as to attain the site-specific
delivery of drugs into the affected tissues. Progress in the
development of metal-based glycoconjugates are here
summarized and discussed.