Targeting Cancer Lysosomes with Good Old Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Being originally discovered as cellular recycling bins, lysosomes are today recognized as versatile signaling organelles that control a wide range of cellular functions that are essential not only for the well-being of normal cells but also for malignant transformation and cancer progression. In addition to their core functions in waste disposal and recycling of macromolecules and energy, lysosomes serve as an indispensable support system for malignant phenotype by promoting cell growth, cytoprotective autophagy, drug resistance, pH homeostasis, invasion, metastasis, and genomic integrity. On the other hand, malignant transformation reduces the stability of lysosomal membranes rendering cancer cells sensitive to lysosome-dependent cell death. Notably, many clinically approved cationic amphiphilic drugs widely used for the treatment of other diseases accumulate in lysosomes, interfere with their cancer-promoting and cancer-supporting functions and destabilize their membranes thereby opening intriguing possibilities for cancer therapy. Here, we review the emerging evidence that supports the supplementation of current cancer therapies with lysosome-targeting cationic amphiphilic drugs.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOrganelles in Disease
Number of pages46
Volume185
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2023
Pages107-152
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-22594-9
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-22595-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
SeriesReviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology
Volume185
ISSN0303-4240

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

    Research areas

  • Cancer, Cathepsins, Cationic amphiphilic drugs, Cell death, Lysosome, pH, SMPD1

ID: 337596238