pharmacological ascorbate + ferumoxytol

Pharmacological ascorbate + ferumoxytol is an experimental combination therapy being evaluated for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. This regimen utilizes high-dose intravenous ascorbate (Vitamin C) as a pro-oxidant to selectively induce metabolic oxidative stress in cancer cells. Ferumoxytol, a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle originally approved for iron deficiency, is used to increase the pool of labile iron within the tumor microenvironment. The interaction between ascorbate and iron facilitates the Fenton reaction, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. These ROS cause extensive DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in glioblastoma cells, which typically possess lower antioxidant capacity than normal cells. This oxidative damage sensitizes the tumor to standard-of-care treatments, including temozolomide and external beam radiation therapy. The therapy is currently being investigated in Phase 1 clinical trials led by Bryan Allen at the University of Iowa.

Other names

ascorbate + ferumoxytolIV ascorbate + ferumoxytolhigh-dose ascorbate + ferumoxytol