Haloperidol drug repurposing unveils ferroptosis involvement in breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with therapeutic resistance posing significant challenges. This study explores haloperidol (Halo), a clinically approved antipsychotic drug, for its potential antitumoral effects and ability to induce ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic programmed cell death linked to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Halo's activity, partially mediated by sigma (σ) receptors, may enhance chemotherapy efficacy. This investigation delves into the role of heme oxygenase (HO), which was demonstrated to exhibit dual effects in ferroptosis as it's crucial for the modulation of iron intracellular levels and redox balance. Analysis of main related indicators depict a clear activation of ferroptotic cell death following Halo treatm

SUBMITTER: Consoli V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12290078 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature