Elaiophylin (Azalomycin B; Gopalamicin; Efomycin E) is an autophagy inhibitor, exerts antitumor activity as a single agent in ovarian cancer cells[1].

Elaiophylin-mediated autophagy inhibition and lysosomal dysfunction affect ovarian cancer cell survival during hypoxia. Exposure to Elaiophylin (0.025-0.5 μM; 24 hours) causes a significant increase in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell death in hypoxia conditions[1]. In both the SKOV3 and A2780 cell lines, Elaiophylin (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 μM; 24 hours) treatment leads to significant activation of cleaved CASP9/caspase-9 and PARP1 and downregulation of BIRC5/survivin in a concentration-dependent manner[1].

Treatment with 2 mg/kg Elaiophylin (given i.p. every 2 days for 21 days; in BALB/C athymic mice) significantly suppresses ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells growth compared with DMSO treatment, resulting in a 72% decrease in the average daily tumor growth rate compared with DMSO treatment [1].Lower doses of Elaiophylin as a single agent exert significant antitumor activity, while higher doses lead to intestinal toxicity. Administration of a lower dose (2 mg/kg) of Elaiophylin as a single agent achieves a significant antitumor effect without toxicity in an orthotopic ovarian cancer model with metastasis. Toxic reactions are observed only in the 8 mg/kg group[1].

References:
[1]. Zhao X, et al Elaiophylin, a novel autophagy inhibitor, exerts antitumor activity as a single agent in ovarian cancer cells. Autophagy. 2015;11(10):1849-63.