Therapeutic Potential and Challenges of Pioglitazone in Cancer Treatment
Source abstract
Abstract
Pioglitazone (ACTOS) is a thiazolidinedione for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) that has been well established for the second or third line treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Beyond the effects on glucose metabolism, pioglitazone displays positive effects on lipid metabolism, blood pressure, endothelial function, bone density, and apoptosis of cancer cells. In fact, according to in vitro experiments and preclinical studies, PPAR-γ ligand is currently considered a potential target for both chemoprevention and cancer therapy. PPAR-γ ligands are known to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through terminal differentiation and underexpression of inflammatory mediators. Despite its anticancer properties, pioglitazone was withdrawn by the national medicine agencies of France and Germany, due to reports of increased incidence of bladder cancer. These reports were associated with European populations undergoing higher doses and longer durations of treatment. In this review, we discuss the pharmacokinetics, therapeutic potential, and limitations regarding the clinical use of pioglitazone, with a focus on cancer treatment.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors · Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer · Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
References (100+)
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