Antiprotozoal Lysophospholipid Analogues: A Comparison of their Activity Against Trypanosomatid Parasites and Tumor Cells

Lysophospholipid analogues (LPAs), originally developed as anti-cancer agents, have shown significant activity against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, both in vitro and in vivo. Miltefosine, used as a topical formulation (Miltex™) for metastases, was registered in 2002 for the oral treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. LPAs interfere with lipid synthesis in T. cruzi and cancer cells, but the activity is about >20- fold higher against the parasite.