Abstract
Nelfinavir (Viracept®) was originally designed as a specific HIV protease inhibitor and, since its introduction in 1997, has served as an effective, reliable, and well-tolerated HIV drug. Although nelfinavir is being increasingly displaced by second generation HIV protease inhibitors that allow better combination treatments, it has again become a focus of interest due to an interesting paradoxical effect: nelfinavir inhibits experimentally-induced tissue degeneration or cell damage by preventing loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and even protects mitochondria in cancer cells but, conversely, it selectively induces a mitochondria-independent cell death mechanism in cancer cells by the so-called endoplasmic reticulum/unfolded protein stress response, allowing nelfinavir to act on otherwise chemo-resistant cancer cells. Furthermore, anti-microbial effects of nelfinavir have been described, including an efficacy against malaria, tuberculosis, and SARS, mostly by cross-reacting with microbial aspartic proteases. Several cancer-related clinical studies on nelfinavir as a single agent or in combination therapies have been launched and are expected to add to the usefulness of this versatile drug for cancer treatment strategies or other purposes.
Keywords: Nelfinavir, HIV, protease inhibitor, cancer, endoplasmic reticulum, apoptosis, mitochondria
Current Molecular Pharmacology
Title: New Prospects for Nelfinavir in Non-HIV-Related Diseases
Volume: 3
Author(s): Ansgar Bruning, Andrea Gingelmaier, Klaus Friese and Ioannis Mylonas
Affiliation:
Keywords: Nelfinavir, HIV, protease inhibitor, cancer, endoplasmic reticulum, apoptosis, mitochondria
Abstract: Nelfinavir (Viracept®) was originally designed as a specific HIV protease inhibitor and, since its introduction in 1997, has served as an effective, reliable, and well-tolerated HIV drug. Although nelfinavir is being increasingly displaced by second generation HIV protease inhibitors that allow better combination treatments, it has again become a focus of interest due to an interesting paradoxical effect: nelfinavir inhibits experimentally-induced tissue degeneration or cell damage by preventing loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and even protects mitochondria in cancer cells but, conversely, it selectively induces a mitochondria-independent cell death mechanism in cancer cells by the so-called endoplasmic reticulum/unfolded protein stress response, allowing nelfinavir to act on otherwise chemo-resistant cancer cells. Furthermore, anti-microbial effects of nelfinavir have been described, including an efficacy against malaria, tuberculosis, and SARS, mostly by cross-reacting with microbial aspartic proteases. Several cancer-related clinical studies on nelfinavir as a single agent or in combination therapies have been launched and are expected to add to the usefulness of this versatile drug for cancer treatment strategies or other purposes.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Bruning Ansgar, Gingelmaier Andrea, Friese Klaus and Mylonas Ioannis, New Prospects for Nelfinavir in Non-HIV-Related Diseases, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2010; 3 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467211003020091
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467211003020091 |
Print ISSN 1874-4672 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-4702 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Computer Design of Vaccines: Approaches, Software Tools and Informational Resources
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Identifying Key Regulator Genes for Tuberculosis by Differential Co- Expression Analysis of Gene Expression Profiling
Current Bioinformatics Identification of Anti-cancer Peptides Based on Multi-classifier System
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Interaction Between Two Residues in the Inter-Domain Interface of Escherichia coli Peptidase N Modulates Catalytic Activity
Protein & Peptide Letters Anti-Tubercular Agents from <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> glabra
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Design of Novel Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase Inhibitors: A Potential New Approach to Tackle <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Flavin-Containing Monoooxygenases (FMOs): Genetic Variation and its Consequences for the Metabolism of Therapeutic Drugs
Current Pharmacogenomics Patent Selections:
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Synthesis and In vitro Antibacterial, Antitubercular Studies of Novel Fluoroquinolones Analogs Containing 4-substituted Sec Amine
Current Bioactive Compounds Design and Development of ChemInfoCloud: An Integrated Cloud Enabled Platform for Virtual Screening
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Caused by Antituberculosis Drugs
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Other Activities
Current Bioactive Compounds Trypanocidal Activity of Nitroaromatic Prodrugs: Current Treatments and Future Perspectives
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Pulmonary Defence Mechanisms
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Anti Inflammatory and Anti Arthritic Activity of Different Milk Based Formulation of Curcumin in Rat Model
Current Drug Delivery Diastereoselective Synthesis of Dispiropseudoindoxyls and Preparation of 9-Oxopyrrolo[ 1,2-α]Indoles
Current Organic Synthesis An Approach for the Rational Design of New Antituberculosis Agents
Current Drug Targets Applications and Case Studies of the Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies in Food, Nutrition and Agriculture
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Role of Janus Kinases Inhibitors
Current Medicinal Chemistry Is the Deficiency of Vitamin B12 Related to Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity in Parkinsons Patients?
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets