Quercetin improves the effects of sorafenib on growth and migration of thyroid cancer cells

Research progress of plant-derived natural products in thyroid carcinoma

Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is a prevalent malignancy of the endocrine system, with a notable rise in its detection rate in recent decades. The primary therapeutic approaches for TC now encompass thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy, yielding favorable prognoses for the majority of patients. TC survivors may necessitate ongoing surveillance, remedial treatment, and thyroid hormone supplementation, while also enduring the adverse consequences of thyroid hormone fluctuations, surgical complications, or side effects linked to radioactive iodine administration, and encountering enduring physical, psychosocial, and economic hardships. In vitro and in vivo studies of natural products against TC are demonstrating the potential of these natural products as alternatives to the treatment of thyroid cancer. This therapy may offer greater convenience, affordability, and acceptability than traditional therapies. In the early screening of natural products, we mainly use a combination of database prediction and literature search. The pharmacological effects on TC of selected natural products (quercetin, genistein, apigenin, luteolin, chrysin, myricetin, resveratrol, curcumin and nobiletin), which hold promise for therapeutic applications in TC, are reviewed in detail in this article through most of the cell-level evidence, animal-level evidence, and a small amount of human-level evidence. In addition, this article explores possible issues, such as bioavailability, drug safety.

Antineoplastic properties of polyphenols in TPC-1 human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line: a systematic review

Thyroid cancer usually responds to surgical and ablative therapy, but when it's refractory the alternative lies in tyrosine kinase inhibitors that, in addition to harmful side effects, acts only in a palliative way. The concern for other therapeutic possibilities brought evidence on flavonoids, hypothesizing a possible strategy. This review aimed to organize a compilation of in vitro studies using polyphenol substances in TPC-1 (human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line) summarizing it's results and describing the metabolic pathways involved. Articles were selected on PubMed, Google Scholar, LILACS, BVS and SciELO, using keywords "thyroid cancer", "flavonoids" and "TPC-1", until June 2022. 185 studies were selected. After identification and exclusion of duplicates and exclusion criteria applied, 11 original articles were evaluated. Of these, the findings of flavonoids added to TPC-1 were: inhibition of cell growth and viability, promotion of cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Polyphenolic compounds have antineoplastic properties by different mechanisms as shown in vitro, but the concentrations needed are above usual dietary consumption and the findings are limited to experimental cellular studies. Despite that, these results should be useful to guide further analysis aiming to reveal the real safety and efficacy of polyphenols in this scenario.

Investigation of the mechanism of Prunella vulgaris in treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma based on network pharmacology integrated molecular docking and experimental verification

To analyze the molecular mechanism of Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by using network pharmacology combined with molecular docking verification. Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database was used to predict the main active components of PV, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, PubChem, and Swiss Target Prediction databases were used to obtain the corresponding targets of all active components. Targets collected for PTC treatment through Gene Cards, Digest and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases respectively. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Protein database was used to obtain the interaction information between proteins, and the topology analysis and visualization were carried out through Cytoscape 3.7.2 software (https://cytoscape.org/). The R package cluster profiler was used for gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. The "active ingredient-target-disease" network was constructed by using Cyto scape 3.7.2, and topological analysis was carried out to obtain the core compound. The molecular docking was processed by using Discovery Studio 2019 software, and the core target and active ingredient were verified. The inhibition rate was detected by CCK8 method. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of kaempferol anti-PTC related pathway proteins. A total of 11 components and 83 corresponding targets in the component target network of PV, of which 6 were the core targets of PV in the treatment of PTC. It was showed that quercetin, luteolin, beta (β)-sitosterol, kaempferol may be the core components of PV in the treatment of PTC. vascular endothelial growth factor A, tumor protein p53, transcription factor AP-1, prostaglandin endoperoxidase 2, interleukin 6, and IL-1B may be important targets for the treatment of PTC. The main biological processes mainly including response to nutrient levels, response to xenobiotic stimulus, response to extracellular stimulus, external side of plasma membrane, membrane raft, membrane microdomain, serine hydrolase activity, serine-type endopeptidase activity, antioxidant activity, etc IL-17 signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may affect the recurrence and metastasis of PTC. Kaempferol may significantly reduce the activity of Papillary cells of human thyroid carcinoma bcpap cell lines cells compared with quercetin, luteolin, β-sitosterol. Kaempferol may reduce the protein expression levels of interleukin 6, vascular endothelial growth factor A, transcription factor AP-1, tumor protein p53, 1L-1B and prostaglandin endoperoxidase 2, respectively. PV has the characteristics of multi-components, multi-targets and multi- pathways in the treatment of PTC, which network pharmacology help to provides a theoretical basis for the screening of effective components of PV and further research.

Expression of miR-31-5p affects growth, migration and invasiveness of papillary thyroid cancer cells

PURPOSE

In this study, we evaluated the biological role of miRNA-31-5p in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

METHODS

By using the real-time PCR, we measured miRNA-31-5p expression levels in 25 PTC tissues and in two human PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC-1). Then, K1 cells were transiently transfected with mirVana inhibitor or mirVana mimic to miRNA-31-5-p. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT and colony formation assays. The in vitro metastatic ability of thyroid cancer cells was evaluated by adhesion, migration and invasion assays. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Hippo pathway related gene and protein levels were evaluated by using the TaqMan™ Gene Expression Assays and western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

We found a significant increase of miR-31-5-p expression in tumor tissue and in K1 cells harboring the BRAF p.V600E mutation. Knockdown of miR-31-5p determined a reduction of cell proliferation, associated with a significant decrease in cell adhesion, migration and invasion properties. A downregulation of EMT markers and YAP/β-catenin axis was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that miRNA-31-5p acts as oncogenic miRNA in human thyrocytes and its overexpression may be involved in the BRAF-related tumorigenesis in PTCs, providing new understanding into its pathological role in PTC progression and invasiveness.

To Explore the Inhibitory Mechanism of Quercetin in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma through Network Pharmacology and Experiments

Quercetin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, is expected to be an innovative anticancer therapeutic agent for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the downstream signaling pathways that mediate quercetin-dependent anticancer properties remain to be deciphered. Herein, potential targets of quercetin were screened with several bioinformatic avenues including PharmMapper, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and molecular docking. Besides, western blot, CCK-8 transwell analysis of migration and invasion, flow cytometric analysis, and colony formation assays were performed to investigate the underlying mechanism. We found four core nodes (MMP9, JUN, SPP1, and HMOX1) by constructing a PPI network with 23 common targets. Through functional enrichment analysis, we confirmed that the above four target genes are enriched in the TNF, PI3K-AKT, and NF-κB signaling pathways, which are involved in the inflammatory microenvironment and inhibit the development and progression of tumors. Furthermore, molecular docking results demonstrated that quercetin shows strong binding efficiency with the proteins encoded by these 4 key proteins. Finally, quercetin displayed strong antitumor efficacy in PTC cell lines. In this research, we demonstrated the application of network pharmacology in evaluating the mechanisms of action and molecular targets of quercetin, which regulates a variety of proteins and signaling pathways in PTC. These data might explain the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of quercetin in PTC.

Diallyl Disulfide Induces Chemosensitization to Sorafenib, Autophagy, and Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the seventh most common type of cancer in the world, with limited treatment options. A promising strategy to treat cancer is to associate chemotherapeutics and plant bioactive compounds. Here, we examined whether diallyl disulfide (DADS; 50-200 μM) and sorafenib (SORA; 8 μM), either alone or in combination, were toxic to hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in vitro. We assessed whether DADS and/or SORA induced cell death (LIVE/DEAD assay and autophagy) and cell cycle changes (flow cytometry), altered expression of key genes and proteins (RT-qPCR and Western blot), and modulated tumorigenesis signatures, such as proliferation (clonogenic assay), migration (wound healing), and invasion (inserts). The DADS + SORA combination elicited autophagic cell death by upregulating LC3 and NRF2 expression and downregulating FOS and TNF expression; induced the accumulation of cells in the G1 phase which thereby upregulated the CHEK2 expression; and inhibited invasion by downregulating the MMP2 expression. Predictive analysis indicated the participation of the MAPK pathway in the reported results. The DADS + SORA combination suppressed both cell invasion and clonogenic survival, which indicated that it dampened tumor growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastatic potential. Therefore, the DADS + SORA combination is a promising therapy to develop new clinical protocols.

Interpreting the Pharmacological Mechanisms of Sho-saiko-to on Thyroid Carcinoma through Combining Network Pharmacology and Experimental Evaluation

Sho-saiko-to is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine compound and is considered to have therapeutic effects against many diseases, including thyroid cancer (TC). However, the mechanisms and therapeutic targets of Sho-saiko-to against TC remain unclear. In this study, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell experiments were combined to predict and verify the targets and mechanisms of the active ingredients of Sho-saiko-to against TC. The results demonstrated that the main chemical ingredients of Sho-saiko-to could suppress the viability and proliferation of TC cells, promote apoptosis through the caspase3 pathway, and induce autophagy through the PI3K-AKT pathway. In addition, Sho-saiko-to could also induce the redifferentiation of anaplastic thyroid cancer. Our study provides a novel approach for treating differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) or radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC).

Insight into Potential Anticancer Activity of Algal Flavonoids: Current Status and Challenges

Flavonoids are some of the most precious phytochemicals, believed to be found largely in terrestrial plants. With the advancement of phytochemical research and marine bioprospecting, flavonoids have also been reported by the research of microalgae and macroalgae. High growth rate with minimal nutritional and growth requirement, saving arable land and rich metabolic profile make microalgae an excellent repertoire of novel anticancer compounds, such as flavonoids. In addition, marine algae, especially seaweeds contain different types of flavonoids which are assumed to have unique chemical structures and bioactivities than their terrestrial counterparts. Flavonoids are not only good antioxidants but also have the abilities to kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy. However, the study of the anticancer properties of flavonoids is largely limited to terrestrial plants. This review offers an insight into the distribution of different classes of flavonoids in eukaryotic microalgae, cyanobacteria and seaweeds with their possible anticancer activities. In addition, extraction and purification methods of these flavonoids have been highlighted. Finally, prospects and challenges to use algal flavonoids as anticancer agents have been discussed.

Effects of Dihydrotanshinone I on Proliferation and Invasiveness of Paclitaxel-Resistant Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells

ATC is a very rare, but extremely aggressive form of thyroid malignancy, responsible for the highest mortality rate registered for thyroid cancer. In patients without known genetic aberrations, the current treatment is still represented by palliative surgery and systemic mono- or combined chemotherapy, which is often not fully effective for the appearance of drug resistance. Comprehension of the mechanisms involved in the development of the resistance is therefore an urgent issue to suggest novel therapeutic approaches for this very aggressive malignancy. In this study, we created a model of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells resistant to paclitaxel and investigated the characteristics of these cells by analyzing the profile of gene expression and comparing it with that of paclitaxel-sensitive original ATC cell lines. In addition, we evaluated the effects of Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) on the viability and invasiveness of paclitaxel-resistant cells. ATC paclitaxel-resistant cells highlighted an overexpression of ABCB1 and a hyper-activation of the NF-κB compared to sensitive cells. DHT treatment resulted in a reduction of viability and clonogenic ability of resistant cells. Moreover, DHT induces a decrement of NF-κB activity in SW1736-PTX and 8505C-PTX cells. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the results of the present study are the first to demonstrate the antitumor effects of DHT on ATC cells resistant to Paclitaxel in vitro.

Dihydrotanshinone exerts antitumor effects and improves the effects of cisplatin in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer and is responsible for 20‑50% of thyroid cancer‑associated deaths. The absence of response to conventional treatments makes the search for novel therapeutics a clinical challenge. In the present study, the effects of 15,16‑dihydrotanshinone I (DHT), a tanshinone extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), which has previously been shown to possess anticancer activity, were examined in two human ATC cell lines. DHT significantly reduced cell viability, which was coupled with an increase in apoptosis. DHT administration also reduced the colony‑forming ability and proliferation of these cells in soft agar and downregulated the expression of epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition‑related genes. In addition, DHT significantly reduced MAD2 expression, a target of HuR with a relevant role in ATC. Finally, cotreatment with cisplatin and DHT has a greater effect on cell viability than each compound alone. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that DHT exerts antitumor effects on ATC cells by reducing MAD2 expression levels. Moreover, a synergistic effect of DHT with cisplatin was shown. Further in vivo studies are required to assess this phytochemical compound as a potential adjuvant for the treatment of ATC.

Programmed cell death, redox imbalance, and cancer therapeutics

Cancer cells are disordered by nature and thus featured by higher internal redox level than healthy cells. Redox imbalance could trigger programmed cell death if exceeded a certain threshold, rendering therapeutic strategies relying on redox control a possible cancer management solution. Yet, various programmed cell death events have been consecutively discovered, complicating our understandings on their associations with redox imbalance and clinical implications especially therapeutic design. Thus, it is imperative to understand differences and similarities among programmed cell death events regarding their associations with redox imbalance for improved control over these events in malignant cells as well as appropriate design on therapeutic approaches relying on redox control. This review addresses these issues and concludes by bringing affront cold atmospheric plasma as an emerging redox controller with translational potential in clinics.

Phytochemicals in thyroid cancer: analysis of the preclinical studies

PURPOSE

In the search for novel effective compounds to use in thyroid cancer (TC) unresponsive to current treatment, attention has recently focused on plant-derived compounds with anticancer activity. In this review, we discuss the preclinical studies demonstrating phytochemical activity against thyroid cancer cells.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

In particular, we describe their antiproliferative properties or ability to re-induce iodine retention, thus supporting their potential use as single agents or adjuvants in radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer treatment.

Quercetin Protects Human Thyroid Cells against Cadmium Toxicity

Various natural compounds have been successfully tested for preventing or counteracting the toxic effects of exposure to heavy metals. In this study, we analyzed the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) on immortalized, non-tumorigenic thyroid cells Nthy-ori-3-1. We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying its toxic action as well as the potential protective effect of quercetin against CdCl₂-induced damage. CdCl₂ suppressed cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner (IC50 value ~10 μM) associated with a decrease in levels of phospho-ERK. In addition, CdCl₂ elicited an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation. A significant increase in GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related protein, was also observed. Supplementation of quercetin counteracted the growth-inhibiting action of CdCl₂ by recovering ERK protein phosphorylation levels, attenuating ROS overproduction, decreasing MDA content and reducing the expression of GRP78 in cells exposed to CdCl₂. Thus, in addition to revealing the molecular effects involved in cadmium-induced toxicity, the present study demonstrated, for the first time, a protective effect of quercetin against cadmium-induced damages to normal thyroid cells.

Quercetin Induces Anticancer Activity by Upregulating Pro-NAG-1/GDF15 in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and its incidence has increased over the last few decades. It is difficult to diagnose different types of thyroid cancer. Tumor tissues from papillary thyroid cancer patient showed higher expression of mature NAG-1, whereas adjacent normal tissues showed higher expression of pro-NAG-1. Several anti-cancer compounds increased pro-NAG-1 expression in thyroid cancer cell line. Quercetin (3,3’,4’,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid that is a major component of various plants, including raspberries, grapes, and onions. Quercetin induced apoptosis by inducing only pro-NAG-1 expression, but not mature NAG-1, mediated by the transcription factor C/EBP. This study indicates that pro-NAG-1 could be used as a useful biomarker for thyroid cancer and also provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of thyroid cancer with quercetin.

Abstract

Although the treatment of thyroid cancer has improved, unnecessary surgeries are performed due to a lack of specific diagnostic and prognostic markers. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. In this study, antibody arrays were performed using tumor and adjacent normal tissues of patients with papillary thyroid cancer, and several potential biomarkers were identified. Among the candidate proteins chosen based on the antibody array data, mature NAG-1 exhibited increased expression in tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. In contrast, pro-NAG-1 expression increased in normal tissues, as assessed by western blot analysis. Furthermore, pro-NAG-1 expression was increased when the thyroid cancer cells were treated with phytochemicals and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, quercetin highly induced the expression of pro-NAG-1 but not that of mature NAG-1, with enhanced anticancer activity, including apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. Examination of the NAG-1 promoter activity showed that p53, C/EBPα, or C/EBPδ played a role in quercetin-induced NAG-1 expression. Overall, our study indicated that NAG-1 may serve as a novel biomarker for thyroid cancer prognosis and may be used as a therapeutic target for thyroid cancers.

Medicinal Prospects of Antioxidants From Algal Sources in Cancer Therapy

Though cancer therapeutics can successfully eradicate cancerous cells, the effectiveness of these medications is mostly restricted to several deleterious side effects. Therefore, to alleviate these side effects, antioxidant supplementation is often warranted, reducing reactive species levels and mitigating persistent oxidative damage. Thus, it can impede the growth of cancer cells while protecting the normal cells simultaneously. Moreover, antioxidant supplementation alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics hinders further tumor development, prevents chemoresistance by improving the response to chemotherapy drugs, and enhances cancer patients' quality of life by alleviating side effects. Preclinical and clinical studies have been revealed the efficacy of using phytochemical and dietary antioxidants from different sources in treating chemo and radiation therapy-induced toxicities and enhancing treatment effectiveness. In this context, algae, both micro and macro, can be considered as alternative natural sources of antioxidants. Algae possess antioxidants from diverse groups, which can be exploited in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite having nutritional benefits, investigation and utilization of algal antioxidants are still in their infancy. This review article summarizes the prospective anticancer effect of twenty-three antioxidants from microalgae and their potential mechanism of action in cancer cells, as well as usage in cancer therapy. In addition, antioxidants from seaweeds, especially from edible species, are outlined, as well.