REVIEW: α-Tocopheryl Succinate Affects Malignant Cell Viability, Proliferation, and Differentiation

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M. A. Savitskaya^* and G. E. Onischenko

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 939-4309; E-mail: nakomis@mail.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received March 8, 2016; Revision received May 8, 2016

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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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KEY WORDS: α-tocopheryl succinate, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria, tumor cells

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297916080034

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