Biomaterial Database

Triterpenoids as new promising anticancer drugs. 2009

Alessia Petronelli, and Gaetano Pannitteri, and Ugo Testa

Department of Hematology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.

Triterpenoids are structurally diverse organic compounds, characterized by a basic backbone modified in multiple ways, allowing the formation of more than 20 000 naturally occurring triterpenoid varieties. Several triterpenoids, including ursolic and oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, celastrol, pristimerin, lupeol, and avicins possess antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. To improve antitumor activity, some synthetic triterpenoid derivatives have been synthesized, including cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9 (11)-dien-28-oic (CDDO), its methyl ester (CDDO-Me), and imidazolide (CDDO-Im) derivatives. Of these, CDDO, CDDO-Me, and betulinic acid have shown promising antitumor activities and are presently under evaluation in phase I studies. Triterpenoids are highly multifunctional and the antitumor activity of these compounds is measured by their ability to block nuclear factor-kappaB activation, induce apoptosis, inhibit signal transducer, and activate transcription and angiogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000972	Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic	Agents obtained from higher plants that have demonstrable cytostatic or antineoplastic activity.	Antineoplastics, Botanical,Antineoplastics, Phytogenic,Agents, Phytogenic Antineoplastic,Botanical Antineoplastics,Phytogenic Antineoplastic Agents,Phytogenic Antineoplastics
D014315	Triterpenes	A class of terpenes (the general formula C30H48) formed by the condensation of six isoprene units, equivalent to three terpene units.	Triterpene,Triterpenoid,Triterpenoids
D015394	Molecular Structure	The location of the atoms, groups or ions relative to one another in a molecule, as well as the number, type and location of covalent bonds.	Structure, Molecular,Molecular Structures,Structures, Molecular
D016503	Drug Delivery Systems	Systems for the delivery of drugs to target sites of pharmacological actions. Technologies employed include those concerning drug preparation, route of administration, site targeting, metabolism, and toxicity.	Drug Targeting,Delivery System, Drug,Delivery Systems, Drug,Drug Delivery System,Drug Targetings,System, Drug Delivery,Systems, Drug Delivery,Targeting, Drug,Targetings, Drug
D017209	Apoptosis	A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.	Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis
D049109	Cell Proliferation	All of the processes involved in increasing CELL NUMBER including CELL DIVISION.	Cell Growth in Number,Cellular Proliferation,Cell Multiplication,Cell Number Growth,Growth, Cell Number,Multiplication, Cell,Number Growth, Cell,Proliferation, Cell,Proliferation, Cellular
D051267	NF-E2-Related Factor 2	A basic-leucine zipper transcription factor that was originally described as a transcriptional regulator controlling expression of the BETA-GLOBIN gene. It may regulate the expression of a wide variety of genes that play a role in protecting cells from oxidative damage.	Nfe2l2 Protein,Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-Like 2 Protein,Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2,NF E2 Related Factor 2,Nuclear Factor E2 Related Factor 2