Antitumor properties of phenothiazines

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to describe and evaluate the antineoplastic properties of phenothiazines. The present research studies suggest that many phenothiazines do not show significant antitumor and antineoplastic activity and so they cannot be used as potential drugs to treat cancer. However some of their derivatives help indirectly in decreasing cytotoxic effects caused by radiation and other chemical carcinogens. Additionally, some phenothiazine derivatives provide protection against cancers caused by metabolic activation of carcinogens such as dimethylbenzanthracene. The selective accumulation of phenothiazine derivatives in certain tissues such as brain and melanoma tumors may provide an effective treatment of such tumors. Current studies suggest that highly potent phenothiazine derivatives can be made by nitro substitution on the aromatic ring of phenothiazines.