Figure 3.

NSAIDs as mitochondrially targeted drugs in metastatic cells. After NSAID treatment, a heightened pro-oxidative status is induced in the metastatic cells, but not in non-metastatic tumor cells. The events ensuing in the metastastic cells include decreasing levels of GSH, critical changes in the Cysteine-thiol/disulfide bond status of key proteins and increasing ROS production, which is followed by Ca²⁺ overload, collapse of Δψ_m, opening of the PTPC, release of cytochrome c and the other apoptosis-inducing factors leading to the death and elimination of these cells. Abbreviations: NSAIDS, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; GSH, reduced glutathione; ROS, reactive oxygen species, PTPC, mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex, MPT, mitochondrial membrane permeability transition.