Luteolin, quercetin and ursolic acid are potent inhibitors of proliferation and inducers of apoptosis in both KRAS and BRAF mutated human colorectal cancer cells

Decrease in GPSM2 mediated by the natural product luteolin contributes to colon adenocarcinoma treatment and increases the sensitivity to fluorouracil

Luteolin, a monomeric substance, is a natural product of the Brucea javanica (BJ) plant. Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection (BJOEI) is a proprietary Chinese medicine purified from BJ that is widely used clinically as an anti-tumor treatment. Although a growing body of research suggests that luteolin and BJOEI have anti-tumor effects, the molecular mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. In this study, through molecular docking technology, we found that luteolin can interact directly with GPSM2 and regulate the FoxO signaling pathway through GPSM2. In addition, the inhibitory effect of luteolin on colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) cells was found to be offset by knockdown of GPSM2. In contrast, the anti-proliferative effects of luteolin could be notably reversed by overexpression of GPSM2. The results reveal that GPSM2 is crucial in luteolin-mediated anti-proliferative effects. The mediation of anti-proliferative effects by GPSM2 has also been indirectly demonstrated in RKO and SW480 xenograft mice models. In addition, we verified that BJOEI inhibits the progression of COAD by mediating GPSM2 and regulating the FoxO signaling pathway. We also found that BJOEI achieved a better anti-tumor effect when combined with fluorouracil injection. Collectively, our data show that the anti-tumor effects of BJOEI and luteolin on COAD are GPSM2-dependent and downregulating the expression of GPSM2 to regulate the FoxO signaling pathway may be an effective way to treat COAD.

Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Decoction inhibits liver metastasis of colorectal cancer via enhancing natural killer cells function

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Complementary treatment with valuable efficacy and less toxic or side effect is in urgent need for colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Decoction (YHJD) is a polyherbal formulation which has been applied in clinic to treat CRC for a long period of time. Nevertheless, the potential active ingredients and molecular mechanism remains to be further explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To probe the effective compounds of YHJD and its underlying pharmacological effects. Moreover, the influence on liver metastasis of CRC as well as function of natural killer (NK) cells results from YHJD was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The active ingredients and target genes of YHJD was examined through TCMSP databases. Compound-compound target network was performed by applying Cytoscape3.9.1 software. The CRC-related disease targets were explored via DisGeNET database. Venn database was used to find the common genes between CRC and YHJD. Protein-protein interaction network was established by STRING database. Biological process and signaling pathways potentially regulated by YHJD were evaluated by DAVID database. Western blot assay was then conducted to further investigate the effect of YHJD on PI3K-AKT signaling. The association between NK cells content and TNM or pathological stages of CRC was studied through TCGA database. The killing efficiency of NK cells was researched by CCK8 experiment. In vivo assay and HE staining were performed to assess the anti-liver metastasis effect of YHJD. The variation of NK cells content was authenticated by applying flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

We firstly found 176 active ingredients and 268 target genes of YHJD. Compound-compound target network was then established consisted of 455 nodes and 3989 edges. Then 707 disease targets associated with CRC were discovered and 42 common genes between CRC and YHJD were identified. Protein-protein interaction network was further constructed, among which 5 vital genes including TP53, AKT1, TNF, MYC and CCND1 were recognized. GO and KEGG analysis was performed to explore probable biological process and signaling pathways regulated by YHJD. Particularly, the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT at protein level representing the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling could be suppressed by YHJD. In addition, bioinformatic analysis detected reduced NK cells content in CRC tissues, which gave rise to more advanced node, metastasis and pathological stages. We next presented that YHJD can improve the killing effect of NK cells on CRC. At meantime, YHJD was capable of suppressing liver metastasis of CRC in vivo as well as promoting the content of NK cells, while the improving effect was partially neutralized by anti-ASGM1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research indicates that YHJD can prohibit liver metastasis of CRC in vivo. The therapeutic effectiveness is linked to regulation of multiple targets and effector process, especially PI3K-AKT signaling as well as immune response dominated by NK cells.

Quercetin modulates signal transductions and targets non-coding RNAs against cancer development

In recent decades, various investigations have indicated that natural compounds have great potential in the prevention and treatment of different chronic disorders including different types of cancer. As a bioactive flavonoid, Quercetin (Qu) is a dietary ingredient enjoying high pharmacological values and health-promoting effects due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characterization. Conclusive in vitro and in vivo evidence has revealed that Qu has great potential in cancer prevention and development. Qu exerts its anticancer influences by altering various cellular processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, metastasis, cell cycle, and proliferation. In this way, Qu by targeting numerous signaling pathways as well as non-coding RNAs regulates several cellular mechanisms to suppress cancer occurrence and promotion. This review aimed to summarize the impact of Qu on the molecular pathways and non-coding RNAs in modulating various cancer-associated cellular mechanisms.

Identification of Dietary Bioflavonoids as Potential Inhibitors against KRAS G12D Mutant—Novel Insights from Computer-Aided Drug Discovery

The KRAS G12D mutation is very frequent in many cancers, such as pancreatic, colon and lung, and has remained undruggable for the past three decades, due to its smooth surface and lack of suitable pockets. Recent small pieces of evidence suggest that targeting the switch I/II of KRAS G12D mutant could be an efficient strategy. Therefore, in the present study, we targeted the switch I (residues 25–40) and switch II (residues 57–76) regions of KRAS G12D with dietary bioflavonoids in comparison with the reference KRAS SI/II inhibitor BI-2852. Initially, we screened 925 bioflavonoids based on drug-likeness properties, and ADME properties and selected 514 bioflavonoids for further studies. Molecular docking resulted in four lead bioflavonoids, namely 5-Dehydroxyparatocarpin K (L1), Carpachromene (L2), Sanggenone H (L3), and Kuwanol C (L4) with binding affinities of 8.8 Kcal/mol, 8.64 Kcal/mol, 8.62 Kcal/mol, and 8.58 Kcal/mol, respectively, in comparison with BI-2852 (−8.59 Kcal/mol). Further steered-molecular dynamics, molecular-dynamics simulation, toxicity, and in silico cancer-cell-line cytotoxicity predictions significantly support these four lead bioflavonoids as potential inhibitors of KRAS G12D SI/SII inhibitors. We finally conclude that these four bioflavonoids have potential inhibitory activity against the KRAS G12D mutant, and are further to be studied in vitro and in vivo, to evaluate their therapeutic potential and the utility of these compounds against KRAS G12D mutated cancers.

Targets Involved in the Anti-Cancer Activity of Quercetin in Breast, Colorectal and Liver Neoplasms

Phytochemicals have long been effective partners in the fight against several diseases, including cancer. Among these, flavonoids are valuable allies for both cancer prevention and therapy since they are known to influence a large panel of tumor-related processes. Particularly, it was revealed that quercetin, one of the most common flavonoids, controls apoptosis and inhibits migration and proliferation, events essential for the development of cancer. In this review, we collected the evidence on the anti-cancer activity of quercetin exploring the network of interactions between this flavonol and the proteins responsible for cancer onset and progression focusing on breast, colorectal and liver cancers, owing to their high worldwide incidence. Moreover, quercetin proved to be also a potentiating agent able to push further the anti-cancer activity of common employed anti-neoplastic agents, thus allowing to lower their dosages and, above all, to sensitize again resistant cancer cells. Finally, novel approaches to delivery systems can enhance quercetin's pharmacokinetics, thus boosting its great potentiality even further. Overall, quercetin has a lot of promise, given its multi-target potentiality; thus, more research is strongly encouraged to properly define its pharmaco-toxicological profile and evaluate its potential for usage in adjuvant and chemoprevention therapy.

Emerging Role of Plant-Based Dietary Components in Post-Translational Modifications Associated with Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its main modifiable risk factors are diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Thus, the right approach through lifestyle changes may lead to its prevention. In fact, some natural dietary components have exhibited chemopreventive activity through modulation of cellular processes involved in CRC development. Although cancer is a multi-factorial process, the study of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins associated with CRC has recently gained interest, as inappropriate modification is closely related to the activation of cell signalling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Therefore, this review aimed to collect the main PTMs associated with CRC, analyse the relationship between different proteins that are susceptible to inappropriate PTMs, and review the available scientific literature on the role of plant-based dietary compounds in modulating CRC-associated PTMs. In summary, this review suggested that some plant-based dietary components such as phenols, flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, and alkaloids may be able to correct the inappropriate PTMs associated with CRC and promote apoptosis in tumour cells.

The Determination of Cisplatin and Luteolin Synergistic Effect on Colorectal Cancer Cell Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction by Fluorescence Labelling

Despite the initial success of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma (CRC), the recurrence of the disease shows that the tumor response is limited by the formation of drug resistance and cannot be kept under control. These drawbacks are associated with the cytostatic chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin (Cis). Combination treatment with different anticancer drugs could increase the therapeutic efficacy of combined therapies by allowing the use of lower, less toxic doses to achieve more efficient destruction of cancer cells. Luteolin (LU) has been studied with other anticancer drugs due to its anticancer cell inhibitory properties and has been shown to sensitize the cytotoxicity induced by various anticancer drugs in several cancer cells. Therefore, in this work, the CompuSyn system was used to investigate different Cis + LU combinations in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Immunofluorescence was used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell death. As a result, a synergistic effect was observed in 5 of the 7 doses tested. Apoptosis/necrosis resulting from chemotherapy resistance was confirmed by Hoechst/ PI -double staining and mitochondrial dysfunction were determined by Rodamine123 (Rho123). Luteolin could thus be used in medicine to provide more effective cancer therapy in appropriate doses, which promises a promising future in clinical application.

Anti-colorectal cancer of Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf. and targets prediction via network pharmacology and molecular docking study

BACKGROUND

Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf. (AGS), a Chinese folk medicine widely grows in the south of China and several studies reported that AGS could inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer, liver cancer, and bladder cancer cell lines. However, little is known about its anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) efficiency.

METHODS

In the present study, a combination of MTT assay, network pharmacological analysis, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation study was used to investigate the active ingredients, and targets of AGS against CRC, as well as the potential mechanism.

RESULTS

MTT assay showed that three kinds of fractions from AGS, including the n-butanol extract (NBAGS), ethyl acetate fraction (EAAGS), and petroleum ether fraction (PEAGS) significantly inhibited the proliferation of CRC cells, with the IC₅₀ values of 197.24, 264.85, 15.45 µg/mL on HCT116 cells, and 523.6, 323.59, 150.31 µg/mL on SW620 cells, respectively. Eleven active ingredients, including, 11-O-galloylbergenin, 11-O-protocatechuoylbergenin, 11-O-syringylbergenin, ardisiacrispin B, bergenin, epicatechin-3-gallate, gallic acid, quercetin, stigmasterol, stigmasterol-3-o-β-D-glucopyranoside were identified. A total of 173 targets related to the bioactive components and 21,572 targets related to CRC were picked out through database searching. Based on the crossover targets of AGS and CRC, a protein-protein interaction network was built up by the String database, from which it was concluded that the core targets would be SRC, MAPK1, ESR1, HSP90AA1, MAPK8. Besides, GO analysis showed that the numbers of biological process, cellular component, and molecular function of AGS against CRC were 1079, 44, and 132, respectively, and KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that 96 signaling pathways in all would probably be involved in AGS against CRC, among which MAPK signaling pathway, lipid, and atherosclerosis, proteoglycans in cancer, prostate cancer, adherens junction would probably be the major pathways. The docking study verified that AGS had multiple ingredients and multiple targets against CRC. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis showed that the binding would be stable via forming hydrogen bonds.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that AGS had good anti-CRC potency with the characteristics of multi-ingredients, -targets, and -signaling pathways.

In silico approach to target PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis by selected Olea europaea phenols in PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer

Worldwide disease burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing alarmingly, but a suitable therapeutic strategy is not available yet. Abnormal activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling because of mutation in the PIK3CA gene is a driving force behind CRC development. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively characterise the potential of phenolic compounds from Olea europaea against the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis by using in silico methodologies. Molecular docking was utilised to study key interactions between phenolic compounds of O. europaea and target proteins PI3K, Akt, mTOR with reference to known inhibitor of target. Drug likeness and ADME/T properties of selected phenols were explored by online tools. Dynamic properties and binding free energy of target-ligand interactions were studied by molecular dynamic simulation and MM-PBSA method respectively. Molecular docking revealed apigenin, luteolin, pinoresinol, oleuropein, and oleuropein aglycone as the top five phenolic compounds which showed comparable/better binding affinity than the known inhibitor of the respective target protein. Drug likeness and ADME/T properties were employed to select the top three phenols namely, apigenin, luteolin, and pinoresinol which shown to bind stably to the catalytic cleft of target proteins as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Therefore, Apigenin, luteolin, and pinoresinol have the potential to be used as the non-toxic alternative to synthetic chemical inhibitors generally used in CRC treatment as they can target PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. Particularly, pinoresinol showed great potential as dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. However, this study needs to be complemented with future in vitro and in vivo studies to provide an alternative way of CRC treatment. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Inhibition and potential treatment of colorectal cancer by natural compounds via various signaling pathways

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common type of malignant digestive tract tumor with a high incidence rate worldwide. Currently, the clinical treatment of CRC predominantly include surgical resection, postoperative chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, these treatments contain severe limitations such as drug side effects, the risk of recurrence and drug resistance. Some natural compounds found in plants, fungi, marine animals, and bacteria have been shown to inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC. Although the explicit molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of these compounds on CRC are not clear, classical signaling transduction pathways such as NF-kB and Wnt/β-catenin are extensively regulated. In this review, we have summarized the specific mechanisms regulating the inhibition and development of CRC by various types of natural compounds through nine signaling pathways, and explored the potential therapeutic values of these natural compounds in the clinical treatment of CRC.

Can dietary flavonoids be useful in the personalized treatment of colorectal cancer?

Activating mutations in the oncogenes KRAS, BRAF and PI3K define molecular colorectal cancer (CRC) subtypes because they play key roles in promoting CRC development and in determining the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies. Survival of patients with cancers displaying these molecular profiles is low. Given the limited efficacy of therapeutic strategies for CRC presenting mutational activations in mitogen-activated protein kinase and/or PI3K pathways, developing combination therapies with natural flavonoids or other phytochemicals with demonstrated effects on these pathways (and little or no toxic effects) may constitute a valuable path forward. Much has been published on the anticancer effects of dietary phytochemicals. However, even an exhaustive characterization of potential beneficial effects produced by in vitro studies cannot be extrapolated to effects in humans. So far, the available data constitute a good starting point. Published results show quercetin and curcumin as possibly the best candidates to be further explored in the context of adjuvant CRC therapy either as part of dietary prescriptions or as purified compounds in combination regimens with the drugs currently used in CRC treatment. Clinical trial data is still largely missing and is urgently needed to verify relevant effects and for the development of more personalized treatment approaches.

Application of Quercetin in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Many cellular signaling pathways contribute to the regulation of cell proliferation, division, motility, and apoptosis. Deregulation of these pathways contributes to tumor cell initiation and tumor progression. Lately, significant attention has been focused on the use of natural products as a promising strategy in cancer treatment. Quercetin is a natural flavonol compound widely present in commonly consumed foods. Quercetin has shown significant inhibitory effects on tumor progression via various mechanisms of action. These include stimulating cell cycle arrest or/and apoptosis as well as its antioxidant properties. Herein, we summarize the therapeutic effects of quercetin in gastrointestinal cancers (pancreatic, gastric, colorectal, esophageal, hepatocellular, and oral).

Medicinal Plants in Cancer Treatment: Contribution of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-kB) Inhibitors

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is one of the principal inducible proteins that is a predominant transcription factor known to control the gene expression in mammals and plays a pivotal role in regulating cell signalling in the body under certain physiological and pathological conditions. In cancer cells, such as colon, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, melanoma, and lymphoma, the NF-κB pathway has been reported to be active. In cellular proliferation, promoting angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis of tumour cells and blocking apoptosis, the constitutive activity of NF-κB signalling has been reported. Therefore, immense attention has been given to developing drugs targeting NF-κB signalling pathways to treat many types of tumours. They are a desirable therapeutic target for drugs, and many studies concentrated on recognizing compounds. They may be able to reverse or standstill the growth and spread of tumours that selectively interfere with this pathway. Recently, numerous substances derived from plants have been evaluated as possible inhibitors of the NF-κB pathway. These include various compounds, such as flavonoids, lignans, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, polyphenols, etc. A study supported by folk medicine demonstrated that plant-derived compounds could suppress NF-κB signalling. Taking this into account, the present review revealed the anticancer potential of naturally occurring compounds which have been verified both by inhibiting the NF-κB signalling and suppressing growth and spread of cancer and highlighting their mechanism of NF-κB inhibition.

Revisiting the Domestication Process of African Vigna Species (Fabaceae): Background, Perspectives and Challenges

Legumes are one of the most economically important and biodiverse families in plants recognised as the basis to develop functional foods. Among these, the Vigna genus stands out as a good representative because of its relatively recent African origin as well as its outstanding potential. Africa is a great biodiversity centre in which a great number of species are spread, but only three of them, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna subterranea and Vigna vexillata, were successfully domesticated. This review aims at analysing and valorising these species by considering the perspective of human activity and what effects it exerts. For each species, we revised the origin history and gave a focus on where, when and how many times domestication occurred. We provided a brief summary of bioactive compounds naturally occurring in these species that are fundamental for human wellbeing. The great number of wild lineages is a key point to improve landraces since the domestication process caused a loss of gene diversity. Their genomes hide a precious gene pool yet mostly unexplored, and genes lost during human activity can be recovered from the wild lineages and reintroduced in cultivated forms through modern technologies. Finally, we describe how all this information is game-changing to the design of future crops by domesticating de novo.

Improving Outcomes of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Data and Ongoing Trials

Targeted therapies such as oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the main therapeutic strategy effective for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently six tyrosine kinase inhibitors for HCC therapy have been approved. The newly approved first-line drug donafenib represent the major milestones in HCC therapeutics in recent years. However, drug resistance in HCC remains challenging due to random mutations in target receptors as well as downstream pathways. TKIs-based combinatorial therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies afford a promising strategy to further clinical application. Recent developments of nanoparticle-based TKI delivery techniques improve drug absorption and bioavailability, enhance efficient targeting delivery, prolonged circulation time, and reduce harmful side effects on normal tissues, which may improve the therapeutic efficacy of the TKIs. In this review, we summarize the milestones and recent progress in clinical trials of TKIs for HCC therapy. We also provide an overview of the novel nanoparticle-based TKI delivery techniques that enable efficient therapy.

Chemical composition and pharmacological bio-efficacy of Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana (Decne) Rehder for anticancer activity

Consistent STAT3 (Single transducer and activator of transcription 3) activation is observed in many tumors and promotes malignant cell transformation. In the present investigation, we evaluated the anticancer effects of Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana methanol fraction (PJM) on STAT3 inhibition in HCCLM3 and MDA-MB 231 cells. PJM suppressed the activation of upstream kinases i.e. JAK-1/2 (Janus kinase-1/2), and c-Src (Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase c-Src), and upregulated the expression levels of PIAS-1/3 (Protein Inhibitor of Activated STATs-1/3), SHP-1/2 (Src-homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1/2), and PTP-1β (Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 β) which negatively regulate STAT3 signaling pathway. PJM also decreased the levels of protein products conferring to various oncogenes, which in turn repressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines. The growth inhibitory effects of PJM on cell-cycle and metastasis were correlated with decreased expression levels of CyclinD1, CyclinE, MMP-2 (Matrix metalloproteinases-2), and MMP-9 (Matrix metalloproteinases-9). Induction of apoptosis was indicated by the cleavage and subsequent activation of Caspases (Cysteine-dependent Aspartate-directed Proteases) i.e. caspase-3, 7, 8, 9, and PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) as well as through the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. These apoptotic effects of PJM were preceded by inhibition of STAT3 cell-signaling pathway. STAT3 was needed for PJM-induced apoptosis, and inhibition of STAT3 via pharmacological inhibitor (Stattic; SC-203282) abolished the apoptotic effects. Conclusively, our results demonstrate the capability of PJM to inhibit cancer cell-proliferation and induce apoptosis by suppressing STAT3 via upregulation of STAT3 inhibitors and pro-apoptotic proteins whereas the down-regulation of upstream kinases and anti-apoptotic protein expression. In future, one-step advance studies of PHM regarding its role in metastatic inhibition, immune response modulation for reducing tumor, and inducing apoptosis in suitable animal models would be an interesting and promising research area.

Phenolic Compounds in Whole Grain Sorghum and Their Health Benefits

Sorghum grain (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a staple food grown across the globe, and is mainly cultivated in the semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. Recently, sorghum grain is increasingly utilized for human consumption, due to the gluten-free nature and potential phenolic-induced health benefits. Sorghum grain is rich in bioactive phenolic compounds, such as ferulic acid, gallic acid, vanillic acid, luteolin, and apigenin, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DXA), which are known to provide many health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-diabetic, and anti-atherogenic activities. Given an increasing trend of sorghum consumption for humans, this article reviews the content and profile of phenolics in sorghum. It covers aspects of their health benefits and explores their mechanisms of action. The impact of thermal processing, such as boiling, steaming, roasting, and extrusion on sorghum phenolics is also discussed. Compelling data suggest the biological functions of sorghum phenolics, however, further investigations appear warrant to clarify the gap in the current research, and identify promising research topics in future.

The impact of the phytotherapeutic agent quercetin on expression of genes and activity of signaling pathways

Quercetin is a flavonoid existing in different herbs, fruits, seeds, nuts and tea. It has beneficial effects on human health through mediating antioxidant activities, immune-modulatory impacts and regulating metabolic pathways. These effects are most probably induced through modulation of activity of signaling pathways and expression of genes. Several in vitro studies have verified anti-proliferative effects of quercetin and its effect on expression of apoptotic genes and cell cycle-related genes. Moreover, through modulation of a number of proteins such as NF-kB, PARP, STAT3, Bax, Bcl-2, COX2, and cytokines, quercetin has beneficial effects in neurodegenerative disorders, liver diseases and diabetes. PI3K/AKT is the mostly linked pathway with beneficial effects of quercetin. In the current manuscript, we explain the impact of quercetin on expression of genes and function of cellular signaling cascades in different contexts.

Combined Treatment with JFKD and Gefitinib Overcomes Drug Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Gefitinib is an important drug used to treat Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR activating mutations, but drug resistance restricts its clinical application. In this present study, combined Jin Fu Kang Decoction (JFKD) and gefitinib showed specific cytotoxicity to gefitinib-resistant cancer cells (PC-9/gef).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to decipher the molecular mechanism of the JFKD on drug resistance when used together with Gefitinib and to find the contributing bio-active substance(s) in JFKD based on the putative mechanism.

METHODS

To investigate the combined effect of gefitinib and JFKD, in vitro experiments were conducted on the established gefitinib-resistant PC-9 subclone, while in vivo experiments were conducted on the BALB/c nude mice with PC-9/gef xenografts. Western blot was used to evaluate the protein expression, and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with quadrupole time-offlight Mass Spectrometry (MS) was used to detect the bio-active compounds of JFKD.

RESULTS

The expression of the PTEN-relevant protein p-EGFR, p-Akt in vitro was inhibited more when combined JKFD and gefitinib were used, whereas the activities of PDCD4 and PTEN were increased; remarkably, in vivo experiments showed enhanced tumor growth inhibition when treated with this combination. Due to this combination, the effect on the gefitinib-resistant cell line, one of the JFKD-induced anti-cancer mechanisms, was found. To link the putative mechanism and the anticancer compounds in JFKD, 14 saponins and flavonoids were detected.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that a promising TCM-participated therapy can be established by the putative mechanism of the combined treatment in resistant NSCLC and screening the contributing bio-active substance(s) in JFKD is meaningful on new TCM formula discovery.

The current understanding on the impact of KRAS on colorectal cancer

KRAS (kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene) is a member of the RAS family. KRAS mutations are one of most dominant mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC). The impact of KRAS mutations on the prognosis and survival of CRC patients drives many research studies to explore potential therapeutics or target therapy for the KRAS mutant CRC. This review summarizes the current understanding of the pathological consequences of the KRAS mutations in the development of CRC; and the impact of the mutations on the response and the sensitivity to the current front-line chemotherapy. The current therapeutic strategies for treating KRAS mutant CRC, the difficulties and challenges will also be discussed.

Network Pharmacology Interpretation of Fuzheng-Jiedu Decoction against Colorectal Cancer

Introduction

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the pathogenic factors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are “deficiency, dampness, stasis, and toxin,” and Fuzheng–Jiedu Decoction (FJD) can resist these factors. In this study, we want to find out the potential targets and pathways of FJD in the treatment of CRC and also explain from a scientific point of view that FJD multidrug combination can resist “deficiency, dampness, stasis, and toxin.”

Methods

We get the composition of FJD from the TCMSP database and get its potential target. We also get the potential target of colorectal cancer according to the OMIM Database, TTD Database, GeneCards Database, CTD Database, DrugBank Database, and DisGeNET Database. Subsequently, PPI analysis, KEGG pathways analysis, and GO biological processes analysis were carried out for the target of FJD in the therapy of colorectal cancer. In addition, we have also built a relevant network diagram.

Results

In this study, we identified four core compounds of FJD in the therapy of colorectal cancer, including quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, and stigmasterol. At the same time, we also obtained 30 core targets, including STAT3, INS, TP53, VEGFA, AKT1, TNF, IL6, JUN, EGF, CASP3, MAPK3, MAPK1, MAPK8, SRC, IGF1, CCND1, ESR1, EGFR, PTEN, MTOR, FOS, PTGS2, CXCL8, HRAS, CDH1, BCL2L1, FN1, MMP9, ERBB2, and JAK2. FJD treatment of colorectal cancer mainly involves 112 KEGG pathways, including FoxO (hsa04068) signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt (hsa04151) signaling pathway, HIF-1 (hsa04066) signaling pathway, T cell receptor (hsa04660) signaling pathway, and ErbB (hsa04012) signaling pathway. At the same time, 330 GO biological processes were summarized, including cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune.

Conclusions

In this study, we found that FJD can regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation and immunity, and angiogenesis through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to play an anti-CRC effect.

Research Advances in Protective Effects of Ursolic Acid and Oleanolic Acid Against Gastrointestinal Diseases

The intestinal tract plays an essential role in protecting tissues from the invasion of external harmful substances due to impaired barrier function. Furthermore, it participates in immunomodulation by intestinal microorganisms, which is important in health. When the intestinal tract is destroyed, it can lose its protective function, resulting in multiple systemic complications. In severe cases, it may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Thus far, there are no curative therapies for intestinal mucosal barrier injury, other than a few drugs that can relieve symptoms. Thus, the development of novel curative agents for gastrointestinal diseases remains a challenge. Ursolic acid (UA) and its isomer, Oleanolic acid (OA), are pentacyclic triterpene acid compounds. Both their aglycone and glycoside forms have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antibacterial, antiviral, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardio protective, hepatoprotective, and anti-neurodegenerative properties in living organisms. In recent years, several studies have shown that UA and OA can reduce the risk of intestinal pathological injury, alleviate intestinal dysfunction, and restore intestinal barrier function. The present study evaluated the beneficial effects of UA and OA on intestinal damage and diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

Ursolic acid inhibits the invasiveness of A498 cells via NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Renal cell cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Ursolic acid (UA) serves an important antitumor role in certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer, breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma; however, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of UA on renal cancer has not yet been investigated. In the present study, A498 cells were treated with different concentrations of UA for 12, 24 and 48 h, and then MCC950, an inhibitor of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) receptor, was added to block NLRP3 signaling. The proliferation of A498 cells was analyzed using an MTS assay and invasiveness was analyzed using a Transwell assay. The expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and MMP-2 were detected using western blotting. The present results demonstrated that the invasiveness of A498 cells was significantly decreased following UA treatment (P<0.05), while expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 and IL-1β were significantly increased, and MMP-2 expression was decreased following UA stimulation (P<0.05). This was reversed by MCC950 treatment (P<0.05), with the exception of NLRP3. In conclusion, the present results indicated that UA exposure decreased the proliferation and invasiveness of A498 cells. Additionally, UA exposure significantly decreased MMP-2 production and induced the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which was reversed by MCC950 treatment, indicating that NLRP3 activation may be involved in UA inhibition of A498 cell invasiveness.

Ohmic Heating Extract of Vine Pruning Residue Has Anti-Colorectal Cancer Activity and Increases Sensitivity to the Chemotherapeutic Drug 5-FU

Vine pruning residues are by-products of the wine industry that have not received much attention in the past, in spite of being rich in bioactive compounds. In this study, we aimed to test whether an ohmic extract of vine pruning residue (VPE) has anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) properties, and whether responses differ according with cell's mutation profile. VPE decreased human CRC cell proliferation, accompanied by DNA effects and cell cycle modulation. VPE also increased cell sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU. Our results suggest that tumors harboring BRAF mutations may be more responsive to VPE than KRAS mutated tumors. These effects of the extract were not completely reproduced by the most abundant constituents tested individually at the concentrations present in the effective dose of VPE. Globally, our results indicate that VPE, a polyphenol enriched extract produced by ohmic heating of vine pruning residue, has anti-colorectal cancer potential, including sensitizing to a chemotherapeutical drug, and its use in functional foods or nutraceuticals could be exploited in personalized anti colorectal cancer dietary strategies. Valorization of this lignocellulosic residue should encourage bio-waste recycling, adding value to this agricultural by-product and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

Anticancer Effects of Fufang Yiliu Yin Formula on Colorectal Cancer Through Modulation of the PI3K/Akt Pathway and BCL-2 Family Proteins

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Fufang Yiliu Yin (FYY) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used in clinical practice for cancer treatment, but its effectiveness and mechanism of action in human CRC are unclear. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of FYY on HCT116 and SW480 human CRC cell lines in vitro and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. A subcutaneous xenograft mouse model was used to confirm the antitumor effect in vivo. The components and targets of FYY were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) database. CRC targets were collected via the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Protein–protein interactions were explored using the STRING platform. Cytoscape was used to construct drug–disease–target networks. KEGG and GO analyses were performed to investigate common FYY and CRC targets. FYY significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced HCT116 and SW480 cell apoptosis. Cell proliferation was blocked at the G0/G1 phase, while cell apoptosis was promoted at the early stage. According to the network pharmacological analysis, quercetin and kaempferol were the most bioactive compounds of FYY. The key targets of FYY were cyclin-D1, MAPK8, and EGFR. GO analysis showed that core targets included the apoptotic signaling pathway, response to steroid hormone, and cellular response to organic cyclic compound. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that FYY may affect CRC through the PI3K/Akt pathway. In vitro, FYY significantly inhibited tumor growth. Pathway analysis confirmed that FYY induced cell apoptosis by modulating PI3K/Akt signaling and BCL-2 family proteins. Hence, our findings indicate that FYY may be a promising adjuvant therapy for CRC.

Identification of very small cancer stem cells expressing hallmarks of pluripotency in B16F10 melanoma cells and their reoccurrence in B16F10-derived clones

Melanoma is characterized by high heterogeneity and plasticity, most likely due to the presence of mutated melanocyte stem cells or immature progenitor cells in the skin that serves as precursors to melanoma. In the present study, for the first time, we identified rare cells in the murine melanoma B16F10, and human A2058 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines that express pluripotency markers, including Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and a marker of melanoma cancer cells (ALDH1/2). These cells are very small with round morphology and they grow onto melanoma cells, thereby demonstrating feeder layer dependence similar to that of other pluripotent cells. These cells underwent self-renewal, symmetric and asymmetric division. We called these cells murine very small cancer stem cells (VSCSC). VSCSC were also found in B16F10-derived clones after 3-5 consecutive passages, where they occur as single cells or as small colonies, nevertheless, always using melanoma cells as feeders. These cells formed melanospheres enriched with Oct4-and ALDH1/2-positive cells. We also evaluated the possible effect of VSCSC that presented in the parental cell line (B16F10) and in clones based on their functional characteristics. We found that VCSCS present in the B16F10 cell line reappearing in their clones were required for continuous tumor growth and were responsible for melanoma cell heterogeneity and plasticity rather than directly affecting functional characteristics of melanoma cells. Our data, together with those of previous reports suggested the existence of melanoma-competent melanocyte stem cells, which corroborate the hypothesis of the existence of tumor-initiating cells and cancer stem cell hierarchies, at least in melanoma.

Ohmic heating polyphenolic extracts from vine pruning residue with enhanced biological activity

Vine Pruning residue was submitted to conventional heating and ohmic heating (OH) for the extraction of bioactive compounds and analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), polyphenolic profile, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity and anticancer activity. The OH extracts were obtained using Low electric field (496.0 V/cm) or Intermediate electric field - IEF (840.0 V/cm). The tests were performed using 45% (v/v) ethanol-water extraction solution at 80 °C at different extraction times (20-90 min). The extract that stood out among the others concerning anticancer potential was the one obtained by OH when used, IEF, where the TPC was significantly higher than in the other extracts which correlated with higher antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activity on different tumor cell lines (HepG2, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and Caco2). Vine pruning OH extracts obtained using green solvents by an eco-friendly procedure were revealed as a source of compounds with relevant antioxidant and anticancer activity.

Alisol A Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells

Natural products are a precious source of promising leads for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. Recently, triterpenoids in Alismatis rhizoma has been widely demonstrated for their anti-cancer activities in cancer cells. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of alisol A in human breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that alisol A exhibited significant anti-proliferative effects in MDA-MB-231 cells and this response was related to autophagy induction. Alisol A-induced autophagy was supported by the triggered autophagosome formation and increased LC3-II levels. Interestingly, autophagy inhibitor 3-MA significantly reversed the cytotoxic effects induced by alisol A. Meanwhile, alisol A-induced autophagy was significantly inhibited by 3-MA in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that alisol A arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. The expression level of cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin D1 was significantly down regulated. In addition, the suppression of NF-κB and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in MDA-MB-231 cells was observed. Furthermore, alisol A significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taken together, our results demonstrated that alisol A could inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells. It could be a promising agent for breast cancer therapy.

Investigating the Multi-Target Pharmacological Mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd Acting on Prostate Cancer: A Network Pharmacology Approach

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the treatment of prostate cancer. However, the potential mechanisms of its anti-tumor effects have not been fully explored. Here, we applied a network pharmacology approach to explore the potential mechanisms of HDW against prostate cancer (PCa). We obtained 14 active compounds from HDW and 295 potential PCa related targets in total to construct a network, which indicated that quercetin and ursolic acid served as the main ingredients in HDW. Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase 8 (MAPK8), Interleukin 6 (IL6), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), Jun Proto-Oncogene (JUN), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL8), Interleukin-1 Beta (IL1B), Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2), RELA Proto-Oncogene (RELA), and CAMP Responsive Element Binding Protein 1 (CREB1) were identified as key targets of HDW in the treatment of PCa. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) cluster demonstrated that CREB1 was the seed in this cluster, indicating that CREB1 plays an important role in connecting other nodes in the PPI network. This enrichment demonstrated that HDW was highly related to translesion synthesis, unfolded protein binding, regulation of mitotic recombination, phosphatidylinositol and its kinase-mediated signaling, nucleotide excision repair, regulation of DNA recombination, and DNA topological change. The enrichment results also showed that the underlying mechanism of HDW against PCa may be due to its coordinated regulation of several cancer-related pathways, such as angiogenesis, cell differentiation, migration, apoptosis, invasion, and proliferation.

Integrated Whole Transcriptome Profiling and Bioinformatics Analysis for Revealing Regulatory Pathways Associated With Quercetin-Induced Apoptosis in HCT-116 Cells

Quercetin (QUE) is a bioactive component that belongs to the natural flavonoids group, and recent researchers found that it could prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the exact mechanism by which QUE exerts its anti-tumor effects in CRC remains unclear. In this study, MTS assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the anti-tumor effects of QUE on HCT-116 cells. The results showed that QUE could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, whole transcriptome sequencing was employed to establish the microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and mRNA profiles. A total of 240 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), 131 circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), 83 miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and 1415 mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified in the QUE-treated HCT-116 cells compared to the untreated HCT-116 cells. Then, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the expression of selected circRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed to further investigate RNAs' biological functions and potential mechanisms. Based on the theory of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed to illustrate the regulatory relationship between non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and mRNA. Our results provided novel information about the molecular basis of QUE in treating CRC. Our findings indicated that deep RNA sequencing analysis of mRNA and ncRNAs was a promising approach to research anticancer mechanisms.

Ursolic acid: An overview on its cytotoxic activities against breast and colorectal cancer cells

Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpene of the ursane type. As a common chemical constituent among species of the family Lamiaceae, UA possesses a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. This overview focuses on the anticancer properties of UA against breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) that are most common among women and men, respectively. In vitro studies have shown that UA inhibited the growth of BC and CRC cell lines through various molecular targets and signaling pathways. There are several in vivo studies on the cytotoxic activity of UA against BC and CRC. UA also inhibits the growth of other types of cancer. Studies on structural modifications of UA have shown that the -OH groups at C3 and at C28 are critical factors influencing the cytotoxic activity of UA and its derivatives. Some needs for future research are suggested. Sources of information were from ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and PubMed.

Luteolin suppresses colorectal cancer cell metastasis via regulation of the miR‑384/pleiotrophin axis

Luteolin (3,4,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonoid that has been found to exhibit anticancer properties in certain types of cancers. In the present study, the role of luteolin and its underlying mechanisms were explored in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. First, the effects of luteolin on CRC cells proliferation, migration and invasion were examined by CCK-8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. It was demonstrated that luteolin had no effects on CRC cells proliferation while inhibited cells migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Then, expression of pleiotrophin (PTN) and miR-384 was detected in cells and CRC tissues by qPCR. Luteolin was found to upregulate miR-384 and downregulate PTN expressions both in CRC cells and tissues. miR-384 inhibition and PTN overexpression partially reversed the inhibition of HT-29 cells migration and invasion induced by luteolin. Target analysis revealed that miR-384 directly regulates PTN expression. The correlation analysis between PTN expression and clinical characteristics revealed that PTN expression was positively related to cancer progression. The present study demonstrated that luteolin exerts anticancer effects against CRC cells by modulating PTN via miR-384 expression suggested that PTN may serve as a promising candidate for therapeutic applications in CRC treatment.

Decrease of AIM2 mediated by luteolin contributes to non-small cell lung cancer treatment

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Although extensive studies showed that luteolin exhibited antitumor effects against NSCLC, the mechanism has not been fully established. In the present study, we found that luteolin significantly reduced the expression of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) at both mRNA and protein levels leading to the suppression of AIM2 inflammasome activation, which induced G2/M phase arrest and inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NSCLC. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of luteolin on NSCLC cells were abolished by the knockdown of AIM2. On the contrary, the antitumor effects of luteolin could be notably reversed by the overexpression of AIM2. In addition, luteolin reduced poly(dA:dT)-induced caspase-1 activation and IL-1β cleavage in NSCLC cells. These findings suggested that AIM2 was essential to luteolin-mediated antitumor effects. The antitumor effects of luteolin, which were closely associated with AIM2, were also confirmed in the A549 and H460 xenograft mouse models. Collectively, our study displayed that the antitumor effects of luteolin on NSCLC were AIM2 dependent and the downregulation of AIM2 might be an effective way for NSCLC treatment.

Uncovering the anti-proliferation mechanism and bioactive compounds in red kidney bean coat against B16-F10 melanoma cells by metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis

In this study, coat (RKBC) and kernel (RKBK) extracts of red kidney bean were prepared, and their chemical compositions and potential anti-cancer activity against B16-F10 cells were evaluated.

Luteolin sensitizes the antitumor effect of cisplatin in drug-resistant ovarian cancer via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration and invasion

Luteolin, a polyphenolic flavone, has been demonstrated to exert anti-tumor activity in various cancer types. Cisplatin drug resistance is a major obstacle in the management of ovarian cancer. In the present study, we investigated the chemo-sensitizing effect of luteolin in both cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line and a mice xenotransplant model. In vitro, CCK-8 assay showed that luteolin inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and luteolin enhanced anti-proliferation effect of cisplatin on cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer CAOV3/DDP cells. Flow cytometry revealed that luteolin enhanced cell apoptosis in combination with cisplatin. Western blotting and qRT-PCR assay revealed that luteolin increased cisplatin-induced downregulation of Bcl-2 expression. In addition, wound-healing assay and Matrigel invasion assay showed that luteolin and cisplatin synergistically inhibited migration and invasion of CAOV3/DDP cells. Moreover, in vivo, luteolin enhanced cisplatin-induced reduction of tumor growth as well as induction of apoptosis. We suggest that luteolin in combination with cisplatin could potentially be used as a new regimen for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Quercetin suppresses the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome via inhibition of MEK1/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

The proteasomal system is a promising target for cancer treatment. Quercetin (Que), a flavonoid compound with antitumor ability, displays the inhibitory effect on proteasome activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are ill defined. The present study found that Que treatment significantly reduced the chymotrypsin-like protease activity of proteasome whereas the trypsin- and caspase-like protease activities remained unchanged in HepG2 cancer cells, along with activation of p38 MAPK and JNK and reduction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Que-reduced proteasome activity could not be reverted by inhibition of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathway. In addition, MEK1 overexpression or knockdown upregulated or downregulated the chymotrypsin-like protease activity of proteasome, respectively. Both Que and MEK1/ERK1/2 inhibitor attenuated the expression levels of proteasome β subunits. These results indicate that Que-induced suppression of MEK1/ERK1/2 signaling and subsequent reduction of proteasome β subunits is responsible for its inhibitory impacts on proteasome activity.

Quercetin: A functional dietary flavonoid with potential chemo-preventive properties in colorectal cancer

Recently, an intense attention has been paid to the application of natural compounds as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Quercetin, a natural flavonol present in many commonly consumed food items, is widely demonstrated to exert inhibitory effects on cancer progression through various mechanisms. Since there is a strong association with diets containing abundant vegetables, fruits, and grains, and significant decline in the risk of colon cancer, accumulation studies have focused on the anticancer potential of quercetin in colorectal cancer. Cell cycle arrest, increase in apoptosis, antioxidant replication, modulation of estrogen receptors, regulation of signaling pathways, inhibition of and metastasis and angiogenesis are among various mechanisms underlying the chemo-preventive effects of quercetin in colorectal cancer. This review covers various therapeutic interactions of Quercetin as to how targets cellular involved in cancer treatment.

Phytochemicals as potent modulators of autophagy for cancer therapy

The dysregulation of autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of a broad range of diseases, and accordingly universal research efforts have focused on exploring novel compounds with autophagy-modulating properties. While a number of synthetic autophagy modulators have been identified as promising cancer therapy candidates, autophagy-modulating phytochemicals have also attracted attention as potential treatments with minimal side effects. In this review, we firstly highlight the importance of autophagy and its relevance in the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. Subsequently, we present the data on common phytochemicals and their mechanism of action as autophagy modulators. Finally, we discuss the challenges associated with harnessing the autophagic potential of phytochemicals for cancer therapy.

Kinase-targeted cancer therapies: progress, challenges and future directions

The human genome encodes 538 protein kinases that transfer a γ-phosphate group from ATP to serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues. Many of these kinases are associated with human cancer initiation and progression. The recent development of small-molecule kinase inhibitors for the treatment of diverse types of cancer has proven successful in clinical therapy. Significantly, protein kinases are the second most targeted group of drug targets, after the G-protein-coupled receptors. Since the development of the first protein kinase inhibitor, in the early 1980s, 37 kinase inhibitors have received FDA approval for treatment of malignancies such as breast and lung cancer. Furthermore, about 150 kinase-targeted drugs are in clinical phase trials, and many kinase-specific inhibitors are in the preclinical stage of drug development. Nevertheless, many factors confound the clinical efficacy of these molecules. Specific tumor genetics, tumor microenvironment, drug resistance, and pharmacogenomics determine how useful a compound will be in the treatment of a given cancer. This review provides an overview of kinase-targeted drug discovery and development in relation to oncology and highlights the challenges and future potential for kinase-targeted cancer therapies.

Modulation of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by luteolin in human colon cancer cells and xenografts

The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the potent cell cycle inhibition and apoptotic effect of luteolin on LoVo human colon cancer cells. In the present study, Cell Counting kit-8 assay revealed that luteolin exerted notable cytotoxicity on LoVo cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with a 50% inhibitory concentration value of 66.70 and 30.47 µmol/l at the time points of 24 and 72 h, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that luteolin promoted cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase, and subsequently induced cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis further revealed that luteolin exhibited an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of LoVo cells by inhibiting cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase transition, with an inactivation of cyclin B1/cell division cycle 2 and induction of cell apoptosis, in part via cytochrome c- and deoxyadenosine triphosphate-mediated activation of apoptotic protease activating factor 1. In vivo studies revealed that luteolin effectively decreased the colon tumor body weight of mice. Therefore, the evidence suggests that luteolin may be a potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against human colon cancer.

Synergism of ursolic acid and cisplatin promotes apoptosis and enhances growth inhibition of cervical cancer cells via suppressing NF-κB p65

Objective

This study was designed to investigate the effect of combination of ursolic acid (UA) with cisplatin (DDP) on cervical cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in cervical cancer cells were examined using RT-PCR and western blot. MTT and colony formation assays were performed to examine the DDP toxicity and the proliferation ability of cervical cancer cells. Cell morphology was observed by means of Hoechst33258 and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The apoptosis rate and cell cycle were assessed through flow cytometry assay. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related molecules.

Results

The mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p65 in cervical cancer cells were significantly higher than that in cervical epithelial cells. The combined treatment of UA and DDP inhibited cervical cancer cell growth and promoted apoptosis more effectively than DDP treatment or UA treatment alone (P < 0.05). Compared with the DDP group and UA group, the expressions of Bcl-2 and NF-κB p65 in DDP +UA group were decreased, while the expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and PARP cleavage were observably increased. The expression of nuclear NF-κB p65 significantly reduced in UA group and DDP +UA group. si-p65 group displayed a decrease of cell proliferation ability and led to a significant reduction in the number of SiHa cell colony formation.

Conclusion

The combination of UA with DDP could more effectively inhibit SiHa cells proliferation and facilitate cell apoptosis through suppressing NF-κB p65.

Grain and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) serves as a novel source of bioactive compounds for human health

Grain sorghum is an important staple food crop grown globally while sweet sorghum is increasingly considered as a promising biofuel feedstock. Biofuels are the major economic products from the processing of large quantities of biomass, which is currently being utilized to make value-added products in the biorefinery approach. To date, these value-added products are typically commodity chemicals and waste materials used in agriculture. However, there are opportunities to generate high-value bioactive compounds from sorghum grain and biomass. Chronic diseases, such as cancers, are the top causes for morbidity and mortality in developed nations and are promoted by inflammation and oxidative stress. Globally, colorectal cancer results in approximately one-half million deaths annually. It is estimated that as much as 80% of colorectal cancer cases can be attributed to environmental and dietary factors. The sorghum grain and ligno-cellulosic biomass generated for biofuel production has been reported to be high in bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the bioactive compounds of grain and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-colon cancer, and immune modulator functions. The review summarizes previous efforts to identify and quantify bioactive compounds in sorghum and documents their anti-cancer biological activities. Finally, this review discusses bioactive compound extraction methodologies and technologies as well as considerations for incorporating these technologies into current biorefining practices.

Hot infusions and risk of colorectal cancer in Uruguay: a case-control study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The evidence of possible roles for the most common hot infusions intake (tea and coffee) in the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) needs additional data. Regarding 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex paraguariensis herb), a previous multi-site study reported lack of association for its highest intake on CRC risk. The present study was conducted to better understand the associations between the intake of this and other infusions and CRC risk.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Patients (611 CRC incident cases and 2394 controls, all belonging to public hospitals) were interviewed through a questionnaire, including socio-demographic, reproductive and lifestyle variables, and a food-frequency questionnaire of 64 items, analyzing tea, 'mate' and coffee intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start and at quit). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders.

RESULTS

Tea and coffee intake displayed significant and inverse associations with CRC risk, mainly among men (OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.38-0.76 for tea and OR=0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.85 for coffee). Mate intake showed a significant inverse association among women (OR=0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.77), with a marginal heterogeneity between sexes (P=0.07). Concerning age strata, tea intake displayed inverse associations in all ages, whereas 'mate' and coffee intake showed stronger inverse associations for age ⩾70, suggesting a gradient along time.

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence of different significant inverse associations for tea, 'mate' and coffee intake and CRC risk. To our knowledge, this is the first epidemiologic study reporting inverse results on 'mate' intake and CRC, which are explained by a stronger association among women.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 23 August 2017; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2017.130.

Oxysterols in adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and death

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells characterized by self-renewal and cellular differentiation capabilities. Oxysterols comprise a very heterogeneous group derived from cholesterol through enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation. Potent effects in cell death processes, including cytoxicity and apoptosis induction, were described in several cell lines. Very little is known about the effects of oxysterols in MSCs. 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), one of the most important oxysterols, was shown to be cytotoxic to human adipose tissue-derived MSCs. Here, we describe the short-term (24h) cytotoxic effects of cholestan-3α-5β-6α-triol, 3,5 cholestan-7-one, (3α-5β-6α)- cholestane-3,6-diol, 7-oxocholest-5-en-3β-yl acetate, and 5β-6β epoxy-cholesterol, on MSCs derived from human adipose tissue. MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue obtained from three young, healthy women. Oxysterols, with the exception of 3,5 cholestan-7-one and 7-oxocholest-5-en-3β-yl acetate, led to a complex mode of cell death that include apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, depending on the type of oxysterol and concentration, being cholestan-3α-5β-6α-triol the most effective. Inhibition of proliferation was also promoted by these oxysterols, but no changes in cell cycle were observed.