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

    May 2020 in “ Frontiers in pharmacology ”
    Daniela F. Fukushiro-Lopes, Alexandra Hegel, Angela Russo, Vitalyi Senyuk, Margaret Liotta, Gyda Beeson, Craig C. Beeson, Joanna E. Burdette, Ronald K. Potkul, Sandro Gentile
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    TLDR Minoxidil can stop the growth of ovarian cancer cells without harming the heart.
    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.
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