Can WGX-50 be a potential therapy to treat tumor by inhibiting mitochondrial reactive oxidative species?

Abstract

Mitochondria are crucial for cellular metabolism, producing adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species. While often viewed as harmful by-products, reactive oxygen species are important for cell signalling, gene expression, and stress adaptation. Abnormal production is linked to conditions like, cancer, where it promotes tumor growth and treatment resistance. Recent studies focus on novel drug WGX-50 extracted from Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Maxim, which targets mitochondrial reactive oxidative species, causing mt-DNA damage and triggering downstream effects. Elevated oxidative species also induce lipid oxidative stress, leading to ferroptosis, a regulated form cell death. WGX-50 can suppress inflammatory cytokines and VEGF, inhibiting angiogenesis and creating less favorable tumor microenvironment, impeding growth. Additionally, WGX-50 could alter the PD-L1/EV pathway, potentially reversing immune suppression and shifting toward an anti-tumor immune response, which enhancing immunotherapy effectiveness. This hypothesis can be tested using in-vitro and in-vivo models, comparing the control group with WGX-50 treatment in different doses intervals after tumor induction. WGX-50 will be the mt-ROS inhibitor is crucial in tumor progression, OS and inflammation. By inhibiting mt-ROS it could be a breakthrough in cancer treatment.