Research Radartracking 1,762 published studies · 471 human · 11 safety signals · 58 clinical trials · 44 cancer pages · updated Sep 2026Open the Research Map →
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Key Takeaway
Repurposed anti-inflammatory that blocks cystine uptake (xCT inhibition) to deplete GSH and induce ferroptosis in GSH-addicted tumors; promising preclinical selectivity with emerging clinical exploration in glioma and TNBC.
Sulfasalazine inhibits the xCT (SLC7A11) subunit of system xc-, blocking cystine import and depleting intracellular glutathione (GSH), which impairs GPX4-mediated lipid peroxidation defense and triggers ferroptotic cell death. This selectively stresses tumors reliant on high cystine uptake for redox buffering, while sparing normal cells with lower dependency. Preclinical models show synergy with ferroptosis inducers (e.g., erastin) and chemotherapies; early human data in glioblastoma and triple-negative breast cancer suggest biomarker modulation and modest efficacy signals.
Targets & pathways
Curated mechanistic targets reported for this agent — how it may act on cells, not proof of a clinical effect.
Severity and how well-established each signal is are shown separately. Verify everything with your oncologist or pharmacist — absence here does not mean safe.
What has been studied, and how strong it is, by topic. A dashed cell means no studies were found for that combination — a gap, not evidence of no effect. Open a row to see its studies.
This in vitro study tested the xCT inhibitor sulfasalazine in endometrial cancer cell lines. In uterine serous carcinoma (USC) cell lines, sulfasalazine combined with cisplatin significantly reduced cell growth, lowered intracellular glutathione, and induced apoptosis compared with single agents, whereas the combination was not effective in endometrioid carcinoma cell lines. USC lines showed higher xCT and lower cystathionine gamma-lyase (CGL) expression, while endometrioid lines showed higher CGL or lower xCT expression, suggesting biomarker-based selection might predict sulfasalazine sensitivity.
Studied with: cisplatin.
Key findings
In uterine serous carcinoma (USC) cell lines, the combination of cisplatin and the xCT inhibitor sulfasalazine significantly inhibited cell growth compared with single-agent cisplatin or sulfasalazine.
Sulfasalazine treatment significantly decreased intracellular glutathione levels and induced apoptosis when combined with cisplatin in USC cell lines.
The effectiveness of combined cisplatin and sulfasalazine was not evident in endometrioid carcinoma cell lines.
USC cell lines exhibited increased expression of xCT and decreased expression of cystathionine gamma lyase (CGL).
Limitations: In vitro study only (cell line experiments); no animal or human data reported in the abstract.; Abstract does not report sample sizes, replicate numbers, or experimental concentrations/doses.; Findings limited to cell lines and may not generalize to tumors in patients.; Predictive biomarker observations are correlative within cell lines and lack validation in vivo or clinically..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Sep 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
What changed recently
The latest additions to Sulfasalazine †Rx's evidence base, and anything that's been retracted.
A deterministic grade of what published studies report for each: strength of evidence, the reported direction, and the largest credible effect, strongest-evidence first. This summarizes findings; it is not a claim that anything works.
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
Dose: as studied, not a recommendation
These are doses as studied or reported, never a recommendation. The right amount of Sulfasalazine †Rx depends on you, your other medicines, and your situation; decide it with your oncology team and pharmacist, not from a web page.
Ranges seen in adjunct / practice use: 1000–4000 mg/day (po) divided QID; with food, IBD standard 2-4 g/day; oncology repurposing 1-2 g/day in trials; folate 1 mg/day co-supplement..
Trials studying Sulfasalazine †Rx
No actively-recruiting trials matched right now. Recruiting is not the same as proven. Search ClinicalTrials.gov →
Inclusion here is not an endorsement. OncoForge makes no claim beyond what the linked studies show. Discuss anything on this page with your oncology team before acting on it.