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Ji H, Ma W, Zheng A, Tang D. The role and molecular mechanism of Trametes Robiniophila Murr(Huaier) in tumor therapy. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 334:118578. [PMID: 39004194 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Trametes Robiniophila Murr, commonly known as Huaier, has been extensively documented in ethnopharmacology research in China. Huaier has a long history of clinical usage spanning over 1000 years in China. Traditional clinical application records demonstrate the wide utilization of Huaier for treating various cancers and enhancing the autoimmunity of tumor patients. AIM OF THE REVIEW The present study provides a comprehensive review of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, anti-tumor mechanism, and potential applications of Huaier, thereby offering valuable insights for the further development and utilization of this natural product. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study employed the keywords "Trametes Robiniophila Murr" and "Huaier" to retrieve relevant information on Huaier from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, ACS, Wiley, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and ancient materia medica. RESULTS Trametes Robiniophila Murr (Huaier), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of various tumors. The primary bioactive constituents of Huaier consist of fungal-derived compounds, including polysaccharides, proteins, ketones, alkaloids, and minerals. The research findings demonstrate that Huaier serves as a reliable adjunctive therapeutic agent by effectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, suppressing tumor metastasis, regulating tumor stem cells and immune function. Therefore, it exerts a potent anti-tumor effect when used in conjunction with conventional anti-cancer therapies. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of traditional uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological activity reveals that Huaier exhibits significant potential as a medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Owing to its numerous advantages, Huaier holds immense promise for application in the domains of tumor prevention and treatment, enhancing both survival time and quality of life among cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ji
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
| | - Wei Ma
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
| | - Aiyu Zheng
- Department of Geriatrics, Taixing People's Hospital, Taixing, 225400, China.
| | - Dong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital; Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University; The Yangzhou Clinical Medical College of Xuzhou Medical University; The Yangzhou School of Clinical Medicine of Dalian Medical University; The Yangzhou School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University; Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Teaching Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
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Chen B, Liu J. Advances in ovarian tumor stem cells and therapy. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01385-8. [PMID: 38955927 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01385-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is considered the most lethal among all gynecological malignancies due to its early metastatic dissemination, extensive spread, and malignant ascites. The current standard of care for advanced ovarian cancer involves a combination of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy utilizing platinum-based and taxane-based agents. Although initial treatment yields clinical remission in 70-80% of patients, the majority eventually develop treatment resistance and tumor recurrence. A growing body of evidence indicates the existence of cancer stem cells within diverse solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, which function as a subpopulation to propel tumor growth and disease advancement by means of drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. The presence of ovarian cancer stem cells is widely considered to be a significant contributor to the unfavorable clinical outcomes observed in patients with ovarian cancer, as they play a crucial role in mediating chemotherapy resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Ovarian cancer stem cells possess the capacity to reassemble within the entirety of the tumor following conventional treatment, thereby instigating the recurrence of ovarian cancer and inducing resistance to treatment. Consequently, the creation of therapeutic approaches aimed at eliminating ovarian cancer stem cells holds great potential for the management of ovarian cancer. These cells are regarded as one of the most auspicious targets and mechanisms for the treatment of ovarian cancer. There is a pressing need for a comprehensive comprehension of the fundamental mechanisms of ovarian cancer's recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, alongside the development of effective strategies to overcome chemoresistance, metastasis, and recurrence. The implementation of cancer stem cell therapies may potentially augment the tumor cells' sensitivity to existing chemotherapy protocols, thereby mitigating the risks of tumor metastasis and recurrence, and ultimately improving the survival rates of ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biqing Chen
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
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Suo H, Hochnadel I, Petriv N, Franke R, Schmidt J, Limanska N, Tugai A, Jedicke N, Broenstrup M, Manns MP, Yevsa T. Elucidating the mechanism behind and investigating the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Tibetan Medicine in combination with standard therapeutics in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in vitro. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:906468. [PMID: 36172191 PMCID: PMC9511410 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.906468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated compounds of plant and mushroom origin belonging to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and to Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM): a sandy beige mushroom Trametes robiniophila Murr, commonly known as Huaier/TCM as well as Ershiwuwei Songshi Wan and Qiwei Honghua Shusheng Wan, which both belong to TTM. We aimed to study the efficacy of TTM and TCM in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in vitro. TCM and TTM were tested either as a monotherapy, or in combination with standard therapeutics: sorafenib for HCC treatment and gemcitabine for CCA. We also discovered a protective mechanism behind the most successful therapeutic combinations. The results demonstrated that TCM and TTM inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results were compared to classical chemotherapeutics currently used in the clinic: sorafenib for HCC and gemcitabine for CCA. In HCC settings, a combination of Huaier (16 mg/ml) with half of the human plasma concentration of sorafenib, Qiwei Honghua Shusheng Wan (1 mg/ml) monotherapy as well as its combination with half or even a quarter dose of the human plasma concentration of sorafenib represented the most efficient treatments, inhibiting the growth of HCC cells more effectively than the standard therapy. The inhibitory mechanism relied on a strong induction of apoptosis. In CCA settings, Ershiwuwei Songshi Wan and Qiwei Honghua Shusheng Wan as monotherapies or in combination with very low doses of gemcitabine inhibited the growth of CCA cells more efficiently than the standard therapy. Importantly, Ershiwuwei Songshi Wan at the 8 and 16 mg/ml concentrations and Qiwei Honghua Shusheng Wan at the 4 mg/ml concentration were efficacious with gemcitabine applied at massively reduced concentrations. The protective mechanism in CCA relied on a strong induction of early and late apoptosis. Cellular senescence and necroptosis were not associated with protection against HCC/CCA. Combination therapy with TCM or TTM allowed for a dose reduction of standard chemotherapeutics. This is especially important as both chemotherapeutic drugs show strong side effects in patients. The reduction of chemotherapeutics and the synergistic effect observed while applying them in combination with TCM and TTM has strong perspectives for the clinic and patients suffering from HCC and CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Suo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Inga Hochnadel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nataliia Petriv
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Raimo Franke
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schmidt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nataliia Limanska
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Biotechnology, Odesa I. I. Mechnykov National University, Odesa, Ukraine
| | - Alisa Tugai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nils Jedicke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mark Broenstrup
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael P. Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tetyana Yevsa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tetyana Yevsa,
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Li B, Cao Q, Liu Z. The treatment effects of Trametes Robiniophila Murr against colorectal cancer: A mini-review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:981516. [PMID: 35991644 PMCID: PMC9381862 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.981516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a worldwide disease threatening people's lives. Surgery and chemotherapy are still the main methods for CRC treatment. However, the side effects and chemotherapeutic drug resistance restrict the application of chemotherapy. Trametes Robiniophila Murr, also known as Huaier, is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for more than 1,600 years. Huaier extracts have promising anti-cancer effects on hepatoma, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. Nowadays, the tumor inhibition of Huaier on CRC has attracted more and more attention. This review mainly provides the possible anti-tumor mechanisms of Huaier for CRC treatment in apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of tumor cells, preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), weakening proliferation and differentiation of CRC stem cells, decreasing the vessel density in tumor tissues, and enhancing the immune system and chemotherapeutic efficacy. Huaier extract may be a good candidate for CRC treatment, especially when combined with other chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qian Cao
- Department of Education, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Liu
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Wei L, Wang Z, Jing N, Lu Y, Yang J, Xiao H, Guo H, Sun S, Li M, Zhao D, Li X, Qi W, Zhang Y. Frontier progress of the combination of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin Med 2022; 17:90. [PMID: 35907976 PMCID: PMC9338659 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-022-00645-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, accounting for 90% of primary liver cancer) was the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer death in 2020. The number of new HCC patients in China accounted for nearly half of that in the world. HCC was of occult and complex onset, with poor prognosis. Clinically, at least 15% of patients with HCC had strong side effects of interventional therapy (IT) and have poor sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a multi-target adjuvant therapy, had been shown to play an active anti-tumor role in many previous studies. This review systematically summarized the role of TCM combined with clinically commonly used drugs for the treatment of HCC (including mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, sorafenib, etc.) in the past basic research, and summarized the efficacy of TCM combined with surgery, IT and conventional therapy (CT) in clinical research. It was found that TCM, as an adjuvant treatment, played many roles in the treatment of HCC, including enhancing the tumor inhibition, reducing toxic and side effects, improving chemosensitivity and prolonging survival time of patients. This review summarized the advantages of integrated traditional Chinese and modern medicine in the treatment of HCC and provides a theoretical basis for clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Wei
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- Department of Scientific Research, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Niancai Jing
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Jili Yang
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Hongyu Xiao
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Huanyu Guo
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Shoukun Sun
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Mingjing Li
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-Macromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Xiangyan Li
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-Macromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China
| | - Wenxiu Qi
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-Macromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China.
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China.
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Ning Z, Zhao Y, Yan X, Hua Y, Meng Z. Flower-like Composite Material Delivery of Co-Packaged Lenvatinib and Bufalin Prevents the Migration and Invasion of Cholangiocarcinoma. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12122048. [PMID: 35745387 PMCID: PMC9230555 DOI: 10.3390/nano12122048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The co-delivery of multiple drugs using nanocarriers has been recognized as a promising strategy for cancer treatment to enhance therapeutic efficacy. In this study, a monodisperse mesoporous silica nanoparticle (mSiO2) is prepared and functionalized into high-efficiency loaded Lenvatinib and Bufalin for targeted delivery to Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). mSiO2 was synthesized on solid silica nanoparticles by oil–water interface method, and highly monodisperse mSiO2 with uniform morphology was obtained. mSiO2 was then sequentially modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the targeting molecule folic acid (FA). mSiO2-FA was designed as co-delivery system for Lenvatinib (Le) and Bufalin (Bu) to increase drug availability and highly target tumor cells. Compared with unfunctionalized mSiO2, mSiO2-FA can more efficiently enter human CCA cell lines (9810 cells) and enhance intracellular drug delivery. Moreover, drug-loaded mSiO2-FA (Le/Bu@mSiO2-FA) significantly inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of 9810 cells. In vivo, the nanocomplex significantly reduced the tumor load in CCA tumor-bearing mouse models compared to Le or Bu alone. The current work provides a useful strategy for highly targeted and multidrug-resistance reversal therapy for CCA.
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Barathan M, Zulpa AK, Mee Hoong S, Vellasamy KM, Vadivelu J. Synergistic effect of hyperforin and paclitaxel on growth inhibition, apoptotic mediator activation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. JOURNAL OF TAIBAH UNIVERSITY FOR SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/16583655.2021.2010910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muttiah Barathan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Khusairy Zulpa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - See Mee Hoong
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kumutha Malar Vellasamy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jamuna Vadivelu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Anticancer effects of the combined Thai noni juice ethanolic extracts and 5-fluorouracil against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14866. [PMID: 34290264 PMCID: PMC8295291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94049-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is limited by adverse side effects and chemoresistance. Therefore, the combination therapy of 5-FU with other substances, especially natural products may provide a new strategy for CCA treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination effects of 5-FU and two ethanolic extracts of Thai noni juice (TNJ) products on CCA cell lines and nude mice xenografts. The results of antiproliferative assay showed the combination treatment of 5-FU and each TNJ ethanolic extract exerted more cytotoxicity on CCA cells than either single agent treatment. Synergistic effects of drug combinations can enable the dose reduction of 5-FU. The mechanism underlying a combination treatment was apoptosis induction through an activation of p53 and Bax proteins. In the nude mouse xenograft model, combination treatments of 5-FU with each TNJ ethanolic extract suppressed the growth of CCA cells implanted mice more than single agent treatments with no effects on mouse body weight, kidney, and spleen. Moreover, low doses of TNJ ethanolic extracts reduced the hepatotoxicity of 5-FU in nude mice. Taken together, these data suggested that the ethanolic extracts of TNJ products can enhance the anti-CCA effect and reduce toxicity of 5-FU.
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Roshanazadeh M, Babaahmadi Rezaei H, Rashidi M. Quercetin synergistically potentiates the anti-metastatic effect of 5-fluorouracil on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021; 24:928-934. [PMID: 34712423 PMCID: PMC8528245 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2021.56559.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Breast cancer (BC) cells' ability to metastasize to other tissues increases mortality. The Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) facilitate cancer cell migration. 5-fluorouracil is a frequently applied chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment with destructive side effects on normal tissues. Hence, researchers have focused on finding a way to reduce the dose of chemotherapeutic drugs. Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic compound, has inhibitory effects on proliferation and migration of tumor cells. This study evaluated the effect of the combination of Quercetin and 5-fluorouracil on migration of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS The effect of Quercetin, 5-fluorouracil , and their combination on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell proliferation was investigated through MTT assay. Inhibition of tumor cell migration was examined by wound healing assay. Finally, the effect of treatments on gene expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS The IC50 values for Quercetin and 5-fluorouracil after 48 hr treatment were 295 μM and 525 μM, respectively. The combination index (CI) for Quercetin and 5-fluorouracil was <1, indicating synergy between them. The combination of Quercetin plus 5-fluorouracil resulted in a significant reduction in migration rate and MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expressions of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells compared with the individual application of 5-FU. CONCLUSION Quercetin enhances the suppressory effect of 5-fluorouracil on migration of BC cells. The combination of Quercetin and 5-fluorouracil can be an attractive field for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Roshanazadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hossein Babaahmadi Rezaei
- Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Rashidi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Zhang S, Guo W. β-Elemene Enhances the Sensitivity of Osteosarcoma Cells to Doxorubicin via Downregulation of Peroxiredoxin-1. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:3599-3609. [PMID: 34113126 PMCID: PMC8184248 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s303152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Doxorubicin (Dox) resistance is a primary obstacle for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Meanwhile, β-Elemene was shown to exhibit an anti-proliferative effect on osteosarcoma cells. However, the role of a combination of Dox with β-Elemene on osteosarcoma cells remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of the combination of Dox with β-Elemene on the proliferation, apoptosis and oxidative stress of Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells. Methods CKC-8, EdU staining and flow cytometry assays were used to determine the viability, proliferation and apoptosis of Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells, respectively. Meanwhile, the expression of antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1) in Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells was detected with Western blot assay. Results In this study, the inhibitory effects of Dox on the viability and proliferation of Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells were significantly enhanced by β-Elemene. In addition, the combination of Dox and β-Elemene markedly induced the apoptosis and oxidative stress in Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, combination treatment notably downregulated the expression of Prx-1 in Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells, indicating that combination treatment inhibited the antioxidant capacity of Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells. In vivo experiments confirmed that β-Elemene could enhance the anti-tumor effect of Dox in Saos-2/Dox xenograft model. Conclusion We found that β-Elemene could reverse Dox resistance in Dox-resistance osteosarcoma cells via inhibition of Prx-1. Therefore, combining Dox with β-Elemene might be considered as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of Dox-resistant osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaochun Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China.,Department of Orthopedics, Ezhou Central Hospital, Ezhou, Hubei, 436000, People's Republic of China
| | - Weichun Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
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Chen T, Li D, Feng C, Zhang Z, Zhu D, Li D, Zhao X. Huaier increases the antitumor effect of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Transl Cancer Res 2021; 10:1368-1377. [PMID: 35116462 PMCID: PMC8799115 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer has a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. As the first-line chemotherapy drug for pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine is widely used but is limited in its efficacy due to the development of chemoresistance. Huaier is a traditional Chinese medicine with anticancer effects. This present study explored the antitumor effect of gemcitabine combined with Huaier on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. METHODS After treatment with gemcitabine combined with Huaier in PaTu8988 pancreatic cancer cells, including 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, wound healing, and Transwell invasion in vitro assays were performed to investigate the proliferation, migration and invasion of cells, respectively. The apoptotic rate of cells was detected by propidium iodide-annexin V staining and flow cytometry. In vivo PaTu8988 pancreatic cancer xenograft and tail vein injection into lung metastasis nude mice models were used to determine the tumor growth and lung metastasis efficiency. RESULTS Huaier could not only inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells, but could also induce the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer in vitro and suppress tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. It further significantly increased the tumor suppressing effects of gemcitabine, and combined use of the two drugs exhibited a synergistic effect. CONCLUSIONS Our present study concluded that Huaier was capable of enhancing the antitumor effect of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, Huaier may be a potential drug to increase the therapy sensitivity of gemcitabine and improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dongbao Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chao Feng
- Soochow University Institutes for Translational Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Zixiang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dongming Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Dechun Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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12
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Xu DQ, Yuan XJ, Toyoda H, Hirayama M. Anti-tumor effect of Huaier extract against neuroblastoma cells in vitro. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:1015-1023. [PMID: 33456359 PMCID: PMC7807190 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.48219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Huaier extract, the main active constituent proteoglycan, has anti-tumor activity in various experimental and clinical settings. However, the potential anti-neuroblastoma and associated mechanisms have not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the potential role of Huaier extract in 3 human neuroblastoma cell lines. Our study demonstrated that incubation with Huaier extract resulted in a marked decrease in cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Huaier extract induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in neuroblastoma and decreased the cell cycle related protein expression of cyclin D3. Western blotting analysis also showed that Huaier extract induced neuroblastoma cell apoptosis and autophagy. Signaling analysis indicated that Huaier extract suppressed the MEK/ERK and mTOR signaling pathways simultaneously. In conclusion, we verify that Huaier extract causes cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase via MEK/ERK and mTOR signaling. Huaier extract may act as a complementary agent for treating neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Qing Xu
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Xiao-Jun Yuan
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hidemi Toyoda
- Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hirayama
- Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, Japan
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13
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Qi T, Dong Y, Gao Z, Xu J. Research Progress on the Anti-Cancer Molecular Mechanisms of Huaier. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:12587-12599. [PMID: 33335400 PMCID: PMC7737552 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s281328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr), a Chinese traditional herb of medicine, has demonstrated promising curative effects in clinical treatment for various tumors. There are documented experiments showing the biological functions of Huaier with its antineoplastic molecular mechanisms: restraining proliferation and metastasis, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, pyrosis, and autophagy, anti-intratumoral angiogenesis, attenuating characteristics of tumor stem-like cells, interfering with the function of the tumor-related immune system, reversing drug resistance, and enhancing the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, etc. In addition, studies suggest that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) acts a pivotal part in cancer occurrence and development, and demonstrates that Huaier adjusts the performance of certain lncRNA (long non-coding RNA) and proceeds to affect the microRNA and its target genes, rendering an anti-tumor effect. Huaier also modulates the expression of lncRNA to attenuate the activity of ncRNA-sponged microRNA and then inhibits the expression of downstream target genes. We summarize and illustrate the experimentally confirmed anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Huaier, to inspire new ideas for researchers in relevant fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Qi
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghong Dong
- Department of Gastroenteropancreatic & Hernia Surgery, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zili Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, People's Republic of China
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14
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Lee H, Kim JW, Lee DS, Min SH. Combined Poziotinib with Manidipine Treatment Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Stem-Cell Proliferation and Stemness. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197379. [PMID: 33036254 PMCID: PMC7583017 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy in women worldwide, with an overall 5 year survival rate below 30%. The low survival rate is associated with the persistence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) after chemotherapy. Therefore, CSC-targeting strategies are required for successful EOC treatment. Pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 (HER4) and L-type calcium channels are highly expressed in ovarian CSCs, and treatment with the pan-HER inhibitor poziotinib or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) selectively inhibits the growth of ovarian CSCs via distinct molecular mechanisms. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that combination treatment with poziotinib and CCBs can synergistically inhibit the growth of ovarian CSCs. Combined treatment with poziotinib and manidipine (an L-type CCB) synergistically suppressed ovarian CSC sphere formation and viability compared with either drug alone. Moreover, combination treatment synergistically reduced the expression of stemness markers, including CD133, KLF4, and NANOG, and stemness-related signaling molecules, such as phospho-STAT5, phospho-AKT, phospho-ERK, and Wnt/β-catenin. Moreover, poziotinib with manidipine dramatically induced apoptosis in ovarian CSCs. Our results suggest that the combinatorial use of poziotinib with a CCB can effectively inhibit ovarian CSC survival and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejin Lee
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Chumbok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41061, Korea; (H.L.); (J.W.K.)
- BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Jun Woo Kim
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Chumbok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41061, Korea; (H.L.); (J.W.K.)
- BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Dong-Seok Lee
- BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Sang-Hyun Min
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Chumbok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41061, Korea; (H.L.); (J.W.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +82-53-790-5799
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15
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Yang PL, Liu LX, Li EM, Xu LY. STAT3, the Challenge for Chemotherapeutic and Radiotherapeutic Efficacy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092459. [PMID: 32872659 PMCID: PMC7564975 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoradiotherapy is one of the most effective and extensively used strategies for cancer treatment. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates vital biological processes, such as cell proliferation and cell growth. It is constitutively activated in various cancers and limits the application of chemoradiotherapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that STAT3 regulates resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and thereby impairs therapeutic efficacy by mediating its feedback loop and several target genes. The alternative splicing product STAT3β is often identified as a dominant-negative regulator, but it enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy and offers a new and challenging approach to reverse therapeutic resistance. We focus here on exploring the role of STAT3 in resistance to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors and radiotherapy, outlining the potential of targeting STAT3 to overcome chemo(radio)resistance for improving clinical outcomes, and evaluating the importance of STAT3β as a potential therapeutic approach to overcomes chemo(radio)resistance. In this review, we discuss some new insights into the effect of STAT3 and its subtype STAT3β on chemoradiotherapy sensitivity, and we explore how these insights influence clinical treatment and drug development for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Lian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; (P.-L.Y.); (L.-X.L.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu-Xin Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; (P.-L.Y.); (L.-X.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; (P.-L.Y.); (L.-X.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Correspondence: (E.-M.L.); (L.-Y.X.); Tel.: +86-754-88900460 (L.-Y.X.); Fax: +86-754-88900847 (L.-Y.X.)
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; (P.-L.Y.); (L.-X.L.)
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Correspondence: (E.-M.L.); (L.-Y.X.); Tel.: +86-754-88900460 (L.-Y.X.); Fax: +86-754-88900847 (L.-Y.X.)
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16
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Du J, Zhao Q, Liu K, Li Z, Fu F, Zhang K, Zhang H, Zheng M, Zhao Y, Zhang S. FGFR2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway Involves in the Development of MMTV-Related Spontaneous Breast Cancer in TA2 Mice. Front Oncol 2020; 10:652. [PMID: 32432040 PMCID: PMC7214838 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tientsin Albino 2 (TA2) mouse has a high incidence of spontaneous breast cancer (SBC) in the absence of external inducers or carcinogens. The initiation of SBC is related to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) infection and pregnancy. Pathologic analysis showed that breast cancer cells in TA2 mice are triple negative. Our previous study confirmed that fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) expression increased in SBC tissue compared to that in their corresponding normal breast tissues of TA2 mice. The present study focused on the function of the FGFR2/STAT3 signaling pathway in the initiation of SBC. In this study, the expression of FGF3, FGFR2, STAT3, p-STAT3Tyr705, and p-STAT3Ser727 was detected in serum and normal mammary gland tissues of TA2 mice with different number of pregnancies and SBC. The proliferation, invasiveness, and migration abilities of MA-891 cells from TA2 SBC were compared before and after cryptotanshinone and Stattic treatment. Transient siRNA transfection was used to detect the invasiveness, and migration abilities to avoid the off-targets effects. Downstream protein expression of STAT3 was also detected in MA-891 cells and TA2 xenografts from MA-891 inoculation. In addition, STAT3 expression was analyzed in 139 cases of human breast cancer including 117 cases of non-triple negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) (group I) and 22 cases of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (group II). Results of our study confirmed that MMTV-LTR amplification, and FGFR2, p-STAT3Tyr705, p-STAT3Ser727 expression increased with the number of pregnancies in the breast tissue of TA2 mice and were the highest in SBC. Serum FGF3 expression of SBC was higher than it of TA2 mice with different number of pregnancies. After STAT3 was inhibited, the abilities of proliferation, invasiveness, and migration in MA-891 decreased and the expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3Ser727, p-STAT3Tyr705, Bcl2, cyclin D1, and c-myc in MA-891 and animal xenografts were also down-regulated. In human breast cancer, STAT3 expression was significantly higher in TNBC than that in non-TNBC. Our results showed that the FGFR2/STAT3 signaling pathway may be related to SBC initiation in TA2 mice. Inhibition of STAT3 can decrease proliferation, invasiveness, and migration in MA-891 cells and the growth of TA2 xenografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Du
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China.,Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China.,Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zugui Li
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Fangmei Fu
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China.,Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Minying Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Yongjie Zhao
- Departments of General Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
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17
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Huaier extract restrains pancreatic cancer by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 127:110126. [PMID: 32278239 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease, and new treatments need to be explored. Huaier extract is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been found to exert antitumor properties in some cancers. However, the role of Huaier extract in pancreatic cancer has not been examined. In this study, we found that the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) of pancreatic cancer cells were suppressed by treatment with Huaier extract and that apoptosis increased. We also observed that expression of β-catenin was inhibited by Huaier extract. Furthermore, an animal study showed that Huaier extract slowed tumor growth in pancreatic cancer. Our results reveal that Huaier extract suppresses pancreatic cancer by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway both in vitro and in vivo.
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18
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Xu T, Guo P, Pi C, He Y, Yang H, Hou Y, Feng X, Jiang Q, Wei Y, Zhao L. Synergistic Effects of Curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil on the Hepatocellular Carcinoma In vivo and vitro through regulating the expression of COX-2 and NF-κB. J Cancer 2020; 11:3955-3964. [PMID: 32328199 PMCID: PMC7171506 DOI: 10.7150/jca.41783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Curcumin (CU) has shown broad anti-cancer effects. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been a conventional chemotherapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. Unfortunately, the nonspecific cytotoxicity and multidrug resistance caused by long-term use limited the clinical efficacy of 5-FU. This study was aimed to investigate whether the combination of CU and 5-FU could generate synergistic effect in inhibiting the human hepatocellular carcinoma. The results of cytotoxicity test showed that compared with applying single drugs, the combination of CU and 5-FU (1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 2:1 and 4:1, mol/mol) presented stronger cytotoxicity in SMMC-7721, Bel-7402, HepG-2 and MHCC97H cells, while the combination groups are relatively insensitive to normal hepatocytes (L02). Among them, the molar ratio of 2:1 combination group showed strong synergistic effect in SMMC-7721cells. Then, western blotting assay further verified that the mechanism of the synergistic effect may be related to the inhibition of the expression of NF-κB (overall) and COX-2 protein. In addition, the synergistic effect was also validated in the xenograft mice in vivo. This research not only provides a novel and effective combination strategy for the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma but also provides an experimental basis for the development of CU and 5-FU compound preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Pu Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Chao Pi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Yingmeng He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Hongru Yang
- The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, No.25, Taiping Street, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Oncology, Luzhou People's Hospital, No.316, Jiugu Dadao Erduan, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yi Hou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Xianhu Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Qingsheng Jiang
- School of International Education, Southwest Medical University, No.1, Xianglin Rd Yiduan, Longmatan District, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yumeng Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, No. 319, Zhongshan Rd Sanduan, Jiangyang District,Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, P.R.China
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