Clinical observation on the effect of Chinese medicine-“TCM formula” intervention on recurrence and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer

Comprehensive Quality Evaluation of Danggui-Jianzhong Decoction by Fingerprint Analysis, Multi-Component Quantitation and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Danggui-Jianzhong decoction (DGJZ) is a famous classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, which ingredients are complex and the quality is difficult to control. Our study aimed to identify the overall chemical profile of DGJZ qualitatively by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and UPLC. A total of 77 components, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, gingerols and other components, were firstly detected and characterized by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and 18 peaks marked after analyzing the UPLC fingerprint. Finally, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, glycyrrhizic acid and 6-gingerol were quantified, which was validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, repeatability and recovery. Taken together, the chemical constitutes of DGJZ were systematically identified and a reliable quantitative method coupled with fingerprint analysis was successfully employed for evaluating the holistic quality, which will provide a robust foundation for the quality control of DGJZ.

Quality of life and survival analyses of breast cancer cases treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of tumor-related mortality after lung cancer. Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge to progress in BC treatment, warranting further exploration of feasible and effective alternative therapies.

AIM

To analyzed the quality of life (QoL) and survival of patients with BC treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (TCM-WM).

METHODS

This study included 226 patients with BC admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between February 2018 and February 2023, including 100 who received conventional Western medicine treatment (control group) and 126 who received TCM-WM treatment (research group). The total effective rate, side effects (alopecia, nausea and vomiting, hepatorenal toxicity, and myelosuppression), QoL assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), 1-year overall survival (OS), recurrence and metastasis rates, and serum inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha] were comparatively analyzed.

RESULTS

The research group showed statistically better overall efficacy, EORTC QoL-C30 scores, and 1-year OS than the control group, with markedly lower side effects and 1-year recurrence and metastasis rates. Moreover, the posttreatment levels of serum inflammatory in the research group were significantly lower than the baseline and those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Overall, TCM-WM demonstrated significantly improved therapeutic efficacy while ensuring drug safety in BC, which not only improved patients' QoL and prolonged survival, but also significantly inhibited the inflammatory response.

Modulatory Effects of XIAOPI Formula on CXCL1 and Selected Outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive malignancy. Psychological distress and elevated CXCL1 level have been reported to be closely associated with the poor prognosis and quality of life of patients with TNBC. In preclinical studies using xenograft mouse models, XIAOPI formula, a nationally approved drug prescribed to patients at high risk for breast cancer, inhibited CXCL1 expression and improved survival. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in improving patients' emotional disorders and quality of life. However, the impact of XIAOPI formula on the serum level of CXCL1, psychological distress, and quality of life among patients with TNBC is currently unknown.

Methods

In this study, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with TNBC were randomly assigned to receive either the XIAOPI formula or a placebo for three months. The primary outcomes include serum CXCL1 expression, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Secondary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B).

Results

A total of 60 patients with TNBC were enrolled in the investigation. The results showed that the XIAOPI formula significantly decreased CXCL1 expression compared with the control group. Moreover, in comparison to the placebo, the XIAOPI formula increased FACT-B scores while decreasing SDS, SAS, and PSQI scores.

Conclusion

In patients with TNBC, XIAOPI formula may be effective in reducing CXCL1 levels, enhancing psychological well-being, and quality of life. While our research offers a natural alternative therapy that may enhance the prognosis of TNBC, future validation of its therapeutic effects will require large-scale, long-term clinical trials.

Clinical Registration Number

Registration website: www.chictr.org.cn, Registration date: 2018-1-19, Registration number: ChiCTR1800014535.

Integrated network pharmacology and experimental verification to explore the potential mechanism of San Ying decoction for treating triple-negative breast cancer

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a breast cancer subtype with poor prognosis. Clinical studies have verified that the Sanyingfang formula (SYF), a TCM prescription, has obvious effects on inhibiting breast cancer recurrence and metastasis, prolonging patient survival, and reducing clinical symptoms. However, its active ingredients and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the active ingredients of each herbal medicine composing SYF and their target proteins are obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. Breast cancer-related genes are obtained from the GeneCards database. Major targets and pathways related to SYF treatment in breast cancer are identified by analyzing the above data. By conducting molecular docking analysis, we find that the active ingredients quercetin and luteolin bind well to the key targets KDR1, PPARG, SOD1, and VCAM1. In vitro experiments verify that SYF can reduce the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of TNBC cells. Using a TNBC xenograft mouse model, we show that SYF could delay tumor growth and effectively inhibit the occurrence of breast cancer lung metastasis in vivo. PPARG, SOD1, KDR1, and VCAM1 are all regulated by SYF and may play important roles in SYF-mediated inhibition of TNBC recurrence and metastasis.

A comprehensive review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and other applications of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ligusticum sinense Oliv. and L. jeholense Nakai et Kitag. are globally recognized as medicinal botanical species, specifically the rhizomes and roots. These plant parts are collectively referred to as Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix (LReR), which is recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (Ch. P). LReR enjoys widespread recognition in many countries such as China, Russia, Vietnam, and Korea. It is an herbal remedy traditionally employed for dispelling wind and cold, eliminating dampness, and alleviating pain. Numerous bioactive compounds have been successfully isolated and identified, displaying a diverse array of pharmacological activities and medicinal value.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to primarily center on the botanical aspects, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, quality control, and other applications of LReR to furnish a comprehensive and multidimensional foundation for future exploration and utilization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information about LReR was acquired from ancient books, doctoral and master's dissertations, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), ScienceDirect, classical literature, and clinical reports. Several electronic databases were also incorporated.

RESULTS

In traditional usage, LReR had been traditionally employed for the treatment of anemofrigid headaches, colds, and joint pain. It possessed therapeutic properties for facial skin disorders, thereby facilitating skin regeneration. It has been subjected to comprehensive chemical analysis, resulting in the identification and isolation of 190 compounds, including phthalides, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, steroids, volatile oil, fatty acids, and other constituents. The pharmacological activities have been in-depth explored through modern in vivo and in vitro studies, confirming its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-melanin effects. Furthermore, it exhibited pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and vasodilatory properties. This study provides a basic to contribute to the advancement of research, medicinal applications and product development related to LReR.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering its traditional and contemporary applications, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological properties, LReR was regarded as a valuable botanical resource for pharmaceutical and pest control purposes. While certain constituents had demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities and application potential, further elucidation was required to fully understand their specific actions and underlying mechanisms. Hence, there was a need to conduct additional investigations to uncover its material foundation and mode of action.

Xianlinglianxiafang Inhibited the growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer via activating PPARγ/AMPK signaling pathway

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by high invasion and metastasis rates. Xian-Ling-Lian-Xia formula (XLLX) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription widely used in China for treating TNBC. Clinical studies have shown that XLLX significantly reduces the recurrence and metastasis rate of TNBC and improves disease-free survival. However, the potential molecular mechanisms of XLLX on TNBC are not clear yet. Here, we investigated the effects of XLLX on TNBC using a mouse model and tumor cell lines. The results showed that XLLX significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 in vitro, induced apoptosis, and regulated the expression of proliferation, apoptosis, and EMT marker proteins in tumor cells. In in vivo experiments, XLLX treatment significantly reduced the progression of TNBC tumors and lung metastasis. Transcriptomics reveals that XLLX treatment significantly enriched differentially expressed genes in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways. The western blot results confirmed that XLLX significantly upregulated the protein expression of PPARγ and p-AMPK in TNBC cells, tumors, and lung tissues. It is noteworthy that GW9662 (a PPARγ inhibitor) and Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) partially reversed the anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effects of XLLX in TNBC cells. Therefore, XLLX may effectively inhibit the growth and metastasis of TNBC by activating the PPARγ/AMPK signaling pathway.

The intention of utilization and experience toward traditional Chinese medicine among breast cancer patients in the early and late stages: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

In Taiwan, breast cancer patients usually take conventional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine simultaneously. The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine among breast cancer patients at various stages has not been examined. This study aims to compare the intention of utilization and experience toward traditional Chinese medicine among early- and late-stage breast cancer patients.

METHOD

This qualitative research collected data from breast cancer patients through focus groups interview by convenience sampling. Conducted in 2 branches of Taipei City Hospital, a public hospital managed by the Taipei City government. Breast cancer patients > 20 years old and had used TCM for breast cancer therapy for at least 3 months were included in the interview. A semi-structured interview guide was adopted in each focus group interview. In the following data analysis, stages I and II were considered early-stage, and stages III and IV were late-stage. For analyzing the data and reporting the results, we used qualitative content analysis as the approach for data analysis, assisted by NVivo 12. Categories and subcategories were identified through content analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve and seven early- and late-stage breast cancer patients were included in this study, respectively. The side effects were the main intention of utilizing traditional Chinese medicine. Improving side effects and constitution was the main benefit for patients in both stages. Additionally, early-stage breast cancer patients used traditional Chinese medicine to prevent recurrence or metastasis. Late-stage breast cancer patients responded more frequently to the use of traditional Chinese medicine due to the side effects of western medicine. However, some of their symptoms were not fully relieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer staging may influence the intention and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine. Health policymakers should consider the results of this research and the evidence-based illustrations to establish guidelines for integrating traditional Chinese medicine among various stages of breast cancer to improve the outcome and quality of care for cancer patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitor: theory, development, and future directions

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer management and have been widely applied; however, they still have some limitations in terms of efficacy and toxicity. There are multiple treatment regimens in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that play active roles in combination with Western medicine in the field of oncology treatment. TCM with ICIs works by regulating the tumor microenvironment and modulating gut microbiota. Through multiple targets and multiple means, TCM enhances the efficacy of ICIs, reverses resistance, and effectively prevents and treats ICI-related adverse events based on basic and clinical studies. However, there have been few conclusions on this topic. This review summarizes the development of TCM in cancer treatment, the mechanisms underlying the combination of TCM and ICIs, existing studies, ongoing trials, and prospects for future development.

Sanyin Formula Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Paclitaxel in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Metastases through the JAK/STAT3 Pathway in Mice

Sanyin formula (SYF) is used as a complementary treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The purpose of this study was to identify the potential functional components and clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms of SYF in TNBC. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to identify the main components of SYF extracts. Network pharmacology and bioinformatic analyses were carried out to identify potential candidate targets of SYF in TNBC. Cell proliferation was determined with a Celigo imaging cytometer. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were adopted to evaluate cell migration. A Transwell cell-invasion assay was performed with Matrigel-coated membranes. In vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and pathological analyses illustrated the effect of SYF on cancer cell metastasis in tumour-bearing mice. The inhibitory mechanism of SYF was investigated via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting. We found that 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, and vanillic acid may be the active components of SYF. Molecular docking confirmed that kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid bound stably to proteins such as AKR1C3, MMPs, and STAT3. SYF extract suppressed TNBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis by inhibiting JAK/STAT3 signalling and then regulating downstream genes, such as MMP-2/MMP-9. SYF regulates the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating the JAK/STAT3 signalling pathway and finally inhibits tumour cell metastasis in TNBC. The present study clarifies the mechanism by which SYF inhibits TNBC metastasis and lays an experimental foundation for the continued clinical development of SYF targeting the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Effectiveness of the Sanyin Formula Plus Chemotherapy on Survival in Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of the Sanyin formula (SYF) plus conventional standard chemotherapy in operable triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, a randomized controlled trial was implemented at 5 hospitals and cancer centers in China between May 23, 2016, and October 31, 2019.

Materials and Methods

Female patients aged 18 to 80 years with operable TNBC after definitive surgery were screened and enrolled. The exclusion criteria included metastatic disease, other tumors, or locally advanced disease. Patients were randomly divided into groups SYF plus conventional standard chemotherapy and placebo plus conventional standard chemotherapy at a ratio of 1:1. The primary endpoint of the investigation was disease-free survival (DFS), and secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and toxicity.

Results

A total of 252 operable female TNBC patients were randomized to receive SYF plus conventional standard chemotherapy (N = 127) or a placebo plus conventional standard chemotherapy (N = 125). At a median follow-up of 51 months, 5-year DFS time was longer in those assigned to SYF plus conventional standard chemotherapy compared with placebo plus conventional standard chemotherapy (94.2%vs 85.5%, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.40; 95%CI, 0.17-0.97; P = 0.034). The absolute benefit for 5-year DFS was 8.7% in the SYF plus conventional standard chemotherapy group. No statistically significant difference was observed in OS between the two groups (P = 0.23). Patients with negative node status benefited more from SYF plus conventional standard chemotherapy treatment (HR = 0.21, P-interaction = 0.013) in accordance with the exploratory subgroup analyses of DFS.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that the traditional Chinese medicine SYF plus conventional chemotherapy regimens is an effective alternative adjuvant chemotherapy strategy for female operable TNBC patients.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx, identifier ChiCTR-IPR-16008590.

Investigating the mechanism of Xian-ling-lian-xia-fang for inhibiting vasculogenic mimicry in triple negative breast cancer via blocking VEGF/MMPs pathway

Background

Xian-ling-lian-xia-fang (XLLXF), a Chinese medicine decoction, is widely used in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the underlying mechanism of XLLXF in TNBC treatment has not been totally elucidated.

Methods

Here, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to explore the mechanism of Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of TNBC. Then, biological experiments were integrated to verify the results of network pharmacology.

Results

Network pharmacology showed that the candidate active ingredients mainly included quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol through the “XLLXF–active ingredients–targets” network. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 were the potential therapeutic targets obtained through the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Molecular docking confirmed that quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol could stably combine with VEGFA and MMP2. Experimental verification showed that XLLXF could inhibit proliferation, colony ability, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation and promote cell apoptosis in TNBC. Laser confocal microscopy found that XLLXF impaired F-actin cytoskeleton organization and inhibited epithelial mesenchymal transition. Animal experiments also found that XLLXF could inhibit tumor growth and VM formation in TNBC xenograft model. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining showed that XLLXF inhibited the protein expression of VEGFA, MMP2, MMP9, Vimentin, VE-cadherin, and Twist1 and increased that of E-cadherin, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and TIMP-3 in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

Integrating the analysis of network pharmacology and experimental validation revealed that XLLXF could inhibit VM formation via downregulating the VEGF/MMPs signaling pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00597-5.

Traditional Chinese Medicines as Effective Reversals of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced-Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Targets and Mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide. Distant metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related mortality in patients with CRC. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process triggered during tumor metastasis, which is also the main impetus and the essential access within this duration. Therefore, targeting EMT-related molecular pathways has been considered a novel strategy to explore effective therapeutic agents against metastatic CRC. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with unique properties multi-target and multi-link that exert their therapeutic efficacies holistically, which could inhibit the invasion and metastasis ability of CRC cells via inhibiting the EMT process by down-regulating transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smads, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch signaling pathways. The objective of this review is to summarize and assess the anti-metastatic effect of TCM-originated bioactive compounds and Chinese medicine formulas by mediating EMT-associated signaling pathways in CRC therapy, providing a foundation for further research on the exact mechanisms of action through which TCMs affect EMT transform in CRC.

Ruyiping extract reduces lung metastasis in triple negative breast cancer by regulating macrophage polarization

Lung metastasis of Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) causes severe breath-related events and poor prognosis. Ruyiping (RYP), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is used to treat breast cancer lung metastasis in clinical practice. This study was to explore the anti-lung-metastatic activities and mechanism of RYP extract by regulating macrophage polarization. The results showed that RYP can inhibit the viability and induce the apoptosis of TNBC cells. In in vitro experiments, RYP significantly inhibited the invasion and migration ability of TNBC cells promoted by M2, the subtype of macrophage which increased TNBC metastasis related genes. In in vivo experiments, RYP reduced the TNBC progression and lung metastasis. M2/M1 ration in the lung and M2 in the tumor was reduced by RYP, as well as M2 master regulator Stat6. Therefore, RYP extract may exhibit anti-lung metastasis function by reducing M2 in both tumor and lung through reducing Stat6.

Determining the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome with the Best Prognosis of HBV-Related HCC and Exploring the Related Mechanism Using Network Pharmacology

Background

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM syndrome is a key guideline, and Chinese materia medicas are widely used to treat hepatitis B virus- (HBV-) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to different TCM syndromes. However, the prognostic value of TCM syndromes in HBV-related HCC patients has never been studied.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of HBV-related HCC patients at Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from December 2005 to October 2017 was analyzed. The prognostic value of TCM syndromes in HBV-related HCC patients was assessed by Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox analysis, and the TCM syndrome with the best prognosis of HBV-related HCC patients was determined. To further study the relevant mechanisms, key Chinese materia medicas (KCMMs) for the TCM syndrome with the best prognosis were summarized, and network pharmacology was also performed.

Results

A total of 207 HBV-related HCC patients were included in this research, and we found that HBV-related HCC patients with TCM excess syndrome had better OS. Then, a total of eight KCMMs for TCM excess syndrome were identified, whose crucial ingredients included quercetin, beta-sitosterol, kaempferol, luteolin, and XH-14, and KCMMs could play a therapeutic role through MAPK, JAK-STAT, Wnt, Hippo, and other pathways. Moreover, TP53, SRC, STAT3, MAPK3, PIK3R1, HRAS, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, EGFR, and JAK2 were determined as the key targets.

Conclusion

We propose a new research method of “prognosis of TCM syndromes-KCMMs-network pharmacology” to reveal the prognostic value of TCM syndromes and the potential mechanism by which TCM syndromes affect prognosis.

Cohort Studies on Chronic Non-communicable Diseases Treated With Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Bibliometric Analysis

Cohort studies investigating the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have considerably accumulated in recent years. To systematically and for the first time present the achievements and dilemmas of cohort studies, strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to search publications from the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for cohort studies on NCDs with TCM since the establishment of these databases. Information on the year of publication, exposure factors, diseases, and outcome indicators was obtained, and a literature quality assessment and bibliometric descriptive analysis were conducted. A total of 182 published articles involving 1,615,106 cases were included. There were 110 non-prospective cohort studies and 72 prospective cohort studies. The diseases involved in the cohort studies were, in the order of the number of published articles, malignant tumors (82 articles, 45.05%), cardiovascular diseases (35 articles, 19.23%), neurological diseases (29 articles, 15.93%), chronic kidney diseases (16 articles, 8.79%), liver cirrhosis (8 articles, 4.40%), diabetes mellitus (8 articles, 4.40%), and chronic respiratory diseases (4 articles, 2.20%). The study participants were mainly from China (177 articles, 97.25%). The number of cohort studies increased significantly in the last 5 years (65 articles, 35.71%), and following the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) literature quality evaluation, the number of articles that received a score of four to five was high (116 articles, 63.73%), and the overall quality needs to be improved. The application of cohort studies in the field of TCM for the prevention and treatment of NCDs has developed rapidly in the past 5 years, focusing on the prevention and treatment of tumors as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the design and implementation of cohort studies still have considerable limitations. To provide more clinical evidence, researcher should actively cooperate with evidence-based methodologists and standardize the implementation of cohort studies.

Anhydroicaritin Inhibits EMT in Breast Cancer by Enhancing GPX1 Expression: A Research Based on Sequencing Technologies and Bioinformatics Analysis

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The application of advanced technology has promoted accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Anhydroicaritin (AHI) is a flavonoid with therapeutic potential in BC treatment. The current study aimed to determine AHI's mechanism in BC treatment via RNA sequencing, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification. Methods: Network pharmacology and MTT (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazolyl-3,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) experiments were conducted to first confirm AHI's anti-BC effect. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the genes affected by AHI. Differential expression analysis, survival analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed via bioinformatics analysis. Western blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiment, molecular docking, and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) experiments were also performed to confirm AHI's direct effect on glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) expression. Confocal immunofluorescence analysis was conducted to verify AHI's effect on the occurrence and development of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, BC nude mouse xenografts were established, and AHI's molecular mechanism on BC was explored. Results: Network pharmacology results demonstrated that AHI's therapeutic targets on BC were related to the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells. AHI significantly inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 BC cells in the MTT experiments. RNA sequencing results showed that AHI upregulated the GPX1 expression in the 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 BC cells. Next, bioinformatics analysis revealed that GPX1 is less expressed in BC than in normal breast tissues. Patients with high GPX1 expression levels tended to have prolonged overall survival and disease-free survival than patients with low GPX1 expression levels in BC. Western blot and RT-PCR experiments revealed that AHI increased the protein and mRNA levels of GPX1. Molecular docking and DARTS experiments confirmed the direct binding combination between AHI and GPX1. After the evaluation of the EMT scores of 1,078 patients with BC, we found a potential anti-BC role of GPX1 possibly via suppression of the malignant EMT. The confocal immunofluorescence analysis showed that AHI increased E-cadherin expression levels and reduced vimentin expression levels in BC cells. Animal experiments showed that AHI significantly inhibited tumor growth. AHI also inhibited EMT by enhancing GPX1 and caspase3 cleavage, hence inhibiting EMT markers (i.e., N-cadherin and vimentin) and Ki-67. Conclusion: GPX1 plays a critical role in BC, which may be a biomarker for the prognosis. In addition, AHI suppressed EMT by increasing GPX1 expression, which may serve as a potential therapy for BC treatment.

Systems pharmacology in combination with proteomics reveals underlying mechanisms of Xihuang pill against triple-negative breast cancer

Xihuang pill (XHP), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has been clinically used as an adjuvant therapy against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) via inhibiting cancer cell invasion and proliferation, as well as promoting cancer cell apoptosis. However, its anti-TNBC bio-active ingredients and possible mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, the hub bio-active compounds and underlying mechanisms of XHP against TNBC were systematically elucidated by integrating systems pharmacology approach and in vitro proteomics analysis. Using systems pharmacology analysis and molecular docking evaluation, 28 bio-active compounds and 10 potential therapeutic targets of XHP were identified. Functional analysis showed that the core therapeutic targets against TNBC were mainly involved in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway to prevent cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis, as well as to enhance cancer cell apoptosis. The in vitro proteomics analysis identified 153 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including HASP90AA1, AKT1, and EGFR, which were also identified as therapeutic targets against TNBC through systems pharmacology analysis. Protein function analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly involved in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which was consistent with the result of systems pharmacology, suggesting the reliability of systems pharmacology analysis. Taken together, these findings uncover the underlying mechanism of XHP against TNBC, and provide a scientific method for the rational development of traditional Chinese medicine.