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α-Tocopheryl succinate affects malignant cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation

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Abstract

The widespread occurrence of malignant tumors motivates great attention to finding and investigating effective new antitumor preparations. Such preparations include compounds of the vitamin E family. Among them, α-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate (VES)) has the most pronounced antitumor properties. In this review, various targets and mechanisms of the antitumor effect of vitamin E succinate are characterized. It has been shown that VES has multiple intracellular targets and effects, and as a result VES is able to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, inhibit their proliferation, induce differentiation, prevent metastasizing, and inhibit angiogenesis. However, VES has minimal effects on normal cells and tissues. Due to the variety of targets and selectivity of action, VES is a promising agent against malignant neoplasms. More detailed studies in this area can contribute to development of effective and safe chemotherapeutic preparations.

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Abbreviations

DAG:

diacylglycerol

GPDH:

glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SDH:

succinate dehydrogenase

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

VES:

vitamin E succinate

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  1. Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    M. A. Savitskaya & G. E. Onischenko

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  1. M. A. Savitskaya
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Original Russian Text © M. A. Savitskaya, G. E. Onischenko, 2016, published in Biokhimiya, 2016, Vol. 81, No. 8, pp. 1034-1049.

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Savitskaya, M.A., Onischenko, G.E. α-Tocopheryl succinate affects malignant cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. Biochemistry Moscow 81, 806–818 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297916080034

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