Inhibitors of aldehyde dehydrogenases of the 1A subfamily as putative anticancer agents: Kinetic characterization and effect on human cancer cells.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are enzymes catalyzing the NAD(P)-dependent oxidation of aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids. High ALDH activity has been related to some important features of cancer stem cells. ALDH1A enzymes, involved in the retinoic acid signaling pathway, are promising drug targets for cancer therapy, and the design of selective ALDH1A inhibitors has a growing pharmacological interest.