螯合剂目前常用于治疗铁(Fe)负荷过重性疾病。去铁胺(DFO)在体外、体内和临床试验中显示了对白血病细胞和神经母细胞瘤细胞的抗增殖活性。同样,这些研究也提示去除铁可能是一种有用的抗癌策略。然而,由于DFO透过细胞膜、结合细胞内铁库的能力很低,其作用严重受限。这些限制鼓励人们去开发其他有效性远高于DFO的铁螯合剂。一组已经得到广泛研究的配体是磷酸吡哆醛(PIH)类。 Chelators are currently used in the treatment of iron overload disorders. Deferoxamine (DFO) has demonstrated anti-proliferative activity against leukemia cells and neuroblastoma cells in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials. Again, these studies suggest that removing iron may be a useful anti-cancer strategy. However, its function is severely limited due to the low ability of DFO to bind intracellular iron stores through the cell membrane. These restrictions encourage people to develop other iron chelators that are much more effective than DFO. One group of ligands that have been widely studied is the pyridoxal phosphate (PIH) class.