TITLE:
The Combination of Iron Chelator Deferoxamine and Glycolytic Inhibitors, 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose and Dichloroacetate, Synergistically Suppress the Proliferation of Human Breast Carcinoma Cell Lines
AUTHORS:
Xianpeng Jiang, Catherine C. Baucom
KEYWORDS:
Iron Chelator, Human Breast Carcinoma, Glycolysis, Glycolytic Inhibitor, Deferoxamine, Drug Synergism
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Cancer cells preferentially use glycolysis to produce energy, even in the presence of oxygen and functional mitochondria. Iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFOM) suppresses cell growth of tumors and increases tumor cell glycolysis via stabilization of hypoxia-induced factor 1. We hypothesized that iron chelator and glycolytic inhibitors synergistically inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Human breast carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were treated with DFOM and glycolytic inhibitors, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) and dichloroacetate (DCA). Real time PCR (qPCR) and 3[H]-Thymidine incorporation assays were used to measure the expression of glycolysis-associated genes and cancer cell proliferation, respectively. The combinative effect of drugs was analyzed with program CompuSyn. qPCR showed that DFOM upregulated the expression of glycolytic genes and glucose transporters, SLC2A1 and SLC2A3. Combination of DFOM and 2-DG or DCA synergistically inhibited the proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell lines (all combination indices were less than 1). In conclusion, iron chelator may synergistically increase the anticancer effectiveness of glycolytic inhibitors.