Repurposing Kir6/SUR2 Channel Activator Minoxidil to Arrest Growth of Gynecologic Cancers

The study demonstrated that minoxidil, a Kir6.2/SUR2 potassium channel activator, could arrest the growth of gynecologic cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, by inducing cell death and reducing tumor growth in a xenograft model. Minoxidil's mechanism involved increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, and leading to DNA damage, which activated a caspase-3 independent cell death pathway. The research found that high expression of the SUR2 gene was associated with improved survival in ovarian cancer patients. Minoxidil did not affect Kir6.2/SUR2 negative cells and did not produce cardiotoxic effects in mice, suggesting its potential as a safe and specific antiproliferative agent against ovarian cancer.