Mitochondrion-Targeted NIR Therapeutic Agent Suppresses Melanoma by Inducing Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest via E2F/Cyclin/CDK Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Malignant melanoma is the most fatal form of skin cancer worldwide, and earlier diagnosis and more effective therapies are required to improve prognosis. As a possible solution, near-infrared fluorescent heptamethine cyanine dyes have been shown to be useful for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Here, we synthesized a novel theranostic agent, IR-817, a multifunctional bioactive small-molecule that has near-infrared emission, targets mitochondria in cancer cells, and has selective anti-cancer effects. In in vitro experiments, IR-817 preferentially accumulated in melanoma cells through organic anion transporting polypeptide transporters but also selectively inhibited the growth of tumor cells by inducing mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic apoptosis. Mechanistically, IR-817 caused G0/G1 cell cycl

SUBMITTER: Sun C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9786161 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature