Investigators from Wuhan University Have Reported New Data on Anticancer Agents (Facile Synthesis of an Acid-responsive Cinnamaldehyde-pendant Polycarbonate for Enhancing the Anticancer Efficacy of Etoposide via Glutathione Depletion).

Researchers from Wuhan University in China have developed a new method to enhance the anticancer efficacy of the drug etoposide by depleting glutathione levels. Glutathione is an antioxidant that contributes to drug resistance in cancer therapy. The researchers synthesized a biocompatible acid-responsive polycarbonate containing cinnamaldehyde, a potent glutathione-depleting agent, and encapsulated etoposide in nanoparticles. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the new formulation, called ETS@PCA, exhibited superior cytotoxicity and enhanced tumor inhibitory effects compared to free etoposide. This research provides a potential strategy to overcome drug resistance in cancer treatment. [Extracted from the article]