Alky-lysophospholipids (ALPs) are synthetic analogs 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 group is derived from a cy ...

. In contrast to LPCs, ALPs are metabolically very stable. ALPs are being studied for their potential antineoplastic (anti-cancer) and

immune-modulating Immunotherapy or biological therapy is the treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as ''activation immunotherapies,'' while immunotherap ...

effects. Their anti-tumor effects are due to modulation of intracellular signalling pathways, inducing

apoptosis Apoptosis (from ) is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms and in some eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast. Biochemistry, Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (Morphology (biol ...

. 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 ...

, 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 Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development (music), the process by which thematic material is reshaped * Photographic development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting * Development hell, when a proje ...

as drugs against cancer and other diseases.

References

{{Reflist Experimental cancer drugs Lipids