PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Danuta S. Kalinowski AU - Des R. Richardson TI - The Evolution of Iron Chelators for the Treatment of Iron Overload Disease and Cancer AID - 10.1124/pr.57.4.2 DP - 2005 Dec 01 TA - Pharmacological Reviews PG - 547--583 VI - 57 IP - 4 4099 - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/57/4/547.short 4100 - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/57/4/547.full SO - Pharmacol Rev2005 Dec 01; 57 AB - The evolution of iron chelators from a range of primordial siderophores and aromatic heterocyclic ligands has lead to the formation of a new generation of potent and efficient iron chelators. For example, various siderophore analogs and synthetic ligands, including ICL670A [4-[3,5-bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-benzoic acid], 4′-hydroxydesazadesferrithiocin, and Triapine, have been developed from predecessors and illustrate potent iron-mobilizing or antineoplastic activities. This review focuses on the evolution of iron chelators from initial lead compounds through to the development of novel chelating agents, many of which show great potential to be clinically applied in the treatment of iron overload disease and cancer.