DL-α-Difluoromethylornithine (hydrochloride hydrate)

DL-α-Difluoromethylornithine hydrochloride hydrate (CAS 96020-91-6), commonly referred to as DFMO, acts as an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). ODC mediates the conversion of ornithine into putrescine, a pivotal initial step in polyamine synthesis. By inhibiting this enzyme, DFMO effectively suppresses polyamine biosynthesis, resulting in antiangiogenic and cytostatic activities against various tumor cell types. In preclinical studies, DFMO treatment reduced cellular proliferation in rat bladder carcinoma cells (804G line) and decreased tumor incidence and size in mouse skin carcinogenesis models. DFMO serves as an important tool in cancer research, particularly in exploring polyamine metabolism and tumor growth pathways.