Alky-lysophospholipids (ALPs) are synthetic

analogs Analog or analogue may refer to: Computing and electronics * Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable ** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals *** Analog electronics, circuits which use analog ...

of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), also called lysolecithins. They are synthesized by replacing the acyl-group within the LPC with an

alkyl group In organic chemistry, an alkyl group is an alkane missing one hydrogen. The term ''alkyl'' is intentionally unspecific to include many possible substitutions. An acyclic alkyl has the general formula of . A cycloalkyl is derived from a cycloalk ...

. In contrast to LPCs, ALPs are metabolically very stable. ALPs are being studied for their potential antineoplastic (anti-cancer) and immune-modulating effects. Their anti-tumor effects are due to modulation of intracellular signalling pathways, inducing apoptosis. It is highly selective, sparing healthy cells. Several examples including

edelfosine Edelfosine (ET-18-O-CH3; 1-octadecyl-2-''O''-methyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is a synthetic alkyl-lysophospholipid (ALP). It has antineoplastic (anti-cancer) effects. Like all ALPs, it incorporates into the cell membrane and does not target t ...

miltefosine Miltefosine, sold under the trade name Impavido among others, is a medication mainly used to treat leishmaniasis and free-living amoeba infections such as ''Naegleria fowleri'' and '' Balamuthia mandrillaris''. This includes the three forms of le ...

, and

perifosine Perifosine (also KRX-0401) is a former drug candidate that was under development for a variety of cancer indications. It is an alkyl-phospholipid structurally related to miltefosine. Perifosine interrupts the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by acting as an ...

are under development as drugs against cancer and other diseases.

References

{{Reflist Experimental cancer drugs Lipids