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Table 3 Novel compounds that target connexins to inhibit metastasis

From: Emerging roles of gap junction proteins connexins in cancer metastasis, chemoresistance and clinical application

Name

Cancer Type

Description

Ref.

Metastasis inhibitor-18 (MI-18)

Melanoma

Inhibited Cx26-mediated GJIC and metastasis.

[107]

Distilled fraction of camellia oil

Melanoma

Inhibited Cx26-mediated GJIC and metastasis.

[108]

MAbE2Cx43

Glioma

A monoclonal antibody targeting the second extracellular loop of Cx43. Decreased tumor burden and increase survival.

[53]

GJ vesicle

Breast

Connexin-rich membrane vesicle derived from Cx43-overexpressing HeLa or MDA-MB-231 cells. Decreased cell migration.

[109]

αCT-1

Breast

A 25 amino acid peptide drug that mimics a cytoplasmic region of Cx43. Enhanced Cx43-GJIC, leading to improved efficacy of tamoxifen and lapatinib.

[112, 113, 115]

TAT-Cx43266-283

Glioma

A cell-penetrating peptide based on Cx43 (amino acids 266–283). Inhibited cell migration and invasion.

[118]

PQ1

Breast

Increased Cx43 and decreased Cx46 expression.

[121]

4-OH-tamoxifen

Breast

Decreased Cx43 expression and migration.

[122]

Fulvestrant

Breast

Decreased Cx43 expression and migration.

[122]

Ginsenoside

PTC

Increased Cx31 expression, leading to decreased cell proliferation.

[81]

  1. GJIC Gap junctional intercellular communication, PTC Papillary thyroid cancer