| abstract |
Certain carbocyanine compounds target mitochondria and may be used for eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs). For example, MitoTraeker Deep Red (MTDR) is a non-toxic, carbocyanine-based, far-red, fluorescent probe that is routinely used to chemically mark and visualize mitochondria in living cells. MTDR inhibits 3D mammosphere formation in MCF7 ceils, MDA-MB-231 cells, and MDA-MB-468 cells, with an 1C-50 between 50 to 100 nM. Also, MTDR exhibited near complete inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates and ATP production, in all three breast cancer cell lines tested, at a level of 500 nM. Nano-molar concentrations of MTDR can be used to specifically target and eradicate CSCs, by selectively interfering with mitochondrial metabolism. Other carbocyanine compounds having anti-CSC activity are described. |