The thiuram disulfide, disulfiram (Antabuse, Fig. 1) is a wellestablished
drug used in the treatment of alcoholism (aversion
therapy) by virtue of its aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibitory
activity.1 Previous studies within our group have identified
disulfiram as a zinc-binding inhibitor of the E3 ubiquitin ligase
enzyme, BCA2 (Breast Cancer Associated protein 2),2 a clinically
over-expressed protein in breast cancer patients and a target for
cancer drug discovery.3 The interesting and multi-faceted anticancer
activity of disulfiram, coupled with its favourable clinical
toxicological and safety profile, has led to the initiation of several
cancer clinical trials using this agent.4