Serotonin transporter ligands as anticancer agents : investigations into a mechanism-based therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma and related malignancies

Abstract

The recent discovery that some serotonin transporter (SERT) ligands have the potential to act as pro-apoptotic agents in Burkitt’s lymphoma adds greatly to their diverse pharmacological application and is the primary focus of this investigation. The main findings of this study conclude that not all SERT ligands induce programmed cell death of Burkitt’s lymphoma cells. A number of antidepressants were found to have a potent effect against BL as well as a number of other malignancies whereas the SERT substrates, serotonin and the amphetamine analogues, MDMA and fenfluramine were found to have no effect against BL. The antidepressants fluoxetine and maprotiline were found by this study to induce dose- and time-dependent programmed cell death in a biopsy-like BL cell line and in a chemoresistant BL cell line.