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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Apoptosis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Cell Growth Processes, Cell Line, Tumor, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Gallium, Gene Expression, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Organometallic Compounds, Pyrones, Receptors, Transferrin, Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase.
user
Is gallium maltolate a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma? Context: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a particularly lethal cancer with few treatment options. Since gallium is known to accumulate specifically in HCC tumors but not in non-tumor liver, we investigated two gallium compounds, gallium nitrate (GaN) and gallium maltolate (GaM), as potential new agents for treating HCC. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities of GaN and GaM were assessed in vitro using four HCC cell lines. HCC gene expression data was analyzed to provide a mechanistic rationale for using gallium in the treatment of HCC. Both compounds showed dose-dependent antiproliferative activity in all four HCC cell lines after 6-day drug exposure (IC50 values range from 60-250 microM for gallium nitrate and 25-35 microM for gallium maltolate). Gallium maltolate at 30 microM additionally induced apoptosis after 6 days. HCC gene expression data showed significantly elevated expression of the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, which is a target for the antiproliferative activity of gallium.
assistant
These data support clinical testing of gallium maltolate, an orally active compound, in the treatment of HCC. Final Decision: yes