Title:New Insight into 2-Methoxyestradiol- a Possible Physiological Link between Neurodegeneration and Cancer Cell Death
Volume: 23
Issue: 15
Author(s): Magdalena Gorska, Alicja Kuban-Jankowska, Jaroslaw Slawek and Michal Wozniak
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Neurodegenerations, cancer, 2-methoxyestradiol, reactive nitrogen species, reactive oxygen species,
neuronal nitric oxide synthase.
Abstract: The pathways leading to development of neurodegenerative disease and cancer
cell death may overlap. Interestingly, the main neurodegeneration-causing factors have been
suggested to play a pivotal role in the regulation of tumor growth. Another common component
in neurodegenerations and cancer is nitro-oxidative stress. Depending on the environmental
conditions, the nitro-oxidative stress may lead to cancerogenesis or cancer cell death.
On the other side, it may also result in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.
Based on the literature data, we suggest that 2-methoxyestradiol may be considered as a physiological link between
development of neurodegenerations and cancer cell death. 2-methoxyestradiol is a physiological compound,
a metabolite of 17β-estradiol. Interestingly, 2-methoxyestradiol, branded as Panzem, is also considered
as a potent anticancer agent, currently investigated in several clinical trials. The review aims on making closer
the facts concerning anticancer and plausible neurotoxic activities of 2-methoxyestradiol, which may suggest
adverse neurological long-term effects of the drug in cancer patients.
