Disclosed are 1,2,4,5-tetraoxane compounds and derivatives thereof having anticancer properties. Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical formulations in unit
dosage form suitable for delivering the compounds to a subject in need thereof. In addition to the compounds, the pharmaceutical compositions or formulations can include one or more active agents, such as one or more additional anticancer agents. Also disclosed are methods of treating, mitigating, or treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with
cancer in a subject. The methods include (i) administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound. The compound can be administered by
oral administration, parenteral administration,
inhalation, mucosal administration, or a combination thereof. The compound can selectively kill
cancer cells and / or
cancer stem cells, but not non-cancer cells, by inducing
ferroptosis in the cancer cells and / or cancer stem cells.