Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Effect and Mechanism of Kanglaite Injection Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Comparative efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine injections as an adjunctive therapy for cervical cancer in Chinese patients: a network meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Chinese medicine injections (CMIs) are widely used as adjuvant therapy for cervical cancer in China. However, the effectiveness of different types of CMIs remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of CMIs when used in conjunction with radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), particularly in combination with cisplatin (DDP), docetaxel plus cisplatin (DP), and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in databases including CNKI, WanFang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to September 2023. We calculated the risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval and the surface under the cumulative ranking area curve (SUCRA) for the clinical efficacy rate (CER), the efficacy rate by Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and the rates of leukopenia reduction (LRR) and gastrointestinal reactions (GRR).

RESULTS

Forty-seven RCTs were included, including nine CMI types: Aidi, Fufangkushen, Huangqi, Kangai (KA), Kanglaite (KLT), Renshenduotang, Shenqifuzheng (SQFZ), Shenmai (SM), and Yadanzi. KLT and KA were likely optimal choices with radiotherapy for CER and KPS, respectively. KA and KLT were optimal choices with RT + DDP for CER and GRR, respectively. KLT was the likely optimal choice with RT + DP for CER and KA for both KPS and GRR. SM and SQFZ were the likely optimal choices with RT + TP for CER and LRR, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal recommendation depends on whether CMIs are used with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. More high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm further and update the existing evidence.

Anti-cancer effects of Coix seed extract through KCTD9-mediated ubiquitination of TOP2A in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Coix seed extract (CSE), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported as an adjunctive therapy in cancers. However, the molecular targets are largely unclear. The study is designed to unveil its function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and the possible molecular mechanism.

METHODS

The HERB database was utilized to predict the molecular targets of the Coix seed, followed by prognostic value prediction in the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database. LUAD cells were infected with sh-KCTD9 after co-culture with CSE, and cell viability, growth, proliferation, and apoptosis were determined. The substrates of KCTD9 were predicted using a protein-protein interaction network and verified. The expression of PD-L1, the contents of TNF-α, IFN-γ, CXCL10, and CXCL9 in the co-culture system of LUAD cells and T cells and the proliferation of T cells were evaluated to study the immune escape of LUAD cells in response to CSE and sh-KCTD9. Lastly, tumor growth and immune escape were observed in tumor-bearing mice.

RESULTS

CSE inhibited malignant behavior and immune escape of LUAD cells, and the reduction of KCTD9 reversed the inhibitory effect of CSE on malignant behavior and immune escape of LUAD cells. Knockdown of KCTD9 expression inhibited ubiquitination modification of TOP2A, and knockdown of TOP2A suppressed immune escape of LUAD cells in the presence of knockdown of KCTD9. CSE exerted anticancer effects in mice, but the reduction of KCTD9 partially compromised the anticancer effect of CSE.

CONCLUSION

CSE inhibits immune escape and malignant progression of LUAD through KCTD9-mediated ubiquitination modification of TOP2A.

Brucine Inhibits Proliferation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through PI3K/AKT Pathway-induced Mitochondrial Apoptosis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this research was to settle the role of brucine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the mechanisms involved.

METHODS

The findings of this study suggest that brucine exerts inhibitory effects on cell growth, clonogenicity, and invasive potential of Panc02 and Mia Paca-2 cells. These effects may be linked to an increase in apoptotic-prone cell population.

RESULTS

Gene sequencing data suggests that these effects are mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Experimental evidence further supports the notion that brucine reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and upregulates Bax expression while downregulating Bcl-2 expression. These effects are believed to be a result of brucine-mediated suppression of PI3K/Akt activity, which serves as a regulatory factor of mTOR, Bax, and Bcl-2. Suppression of PI3K activity enhances the tumor-suppressing effects of brucine.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these findings suggest that brucine has therapeutic potential as a remedy option for PDAC.

Anti-tumor effect of coix seed based on the theory of medicinal and food homology

Coix seed is a dry and mature seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L.var.ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf in the Gramineae family. Coix seed has a sweet, light taste, and a cool nature. Coix seed enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. It has the effects of promoting diuresis and dampness, strengthening the spleen to prevent diarrhea, removing arthralgia, expelling pus, and detoxifying and dispersing nodules. It is used for the treatment of edema, athlete's foot, poor urination, spleen deficiency and diarrhea, dampness and obstruction, lung carbuncle, intestinal carbuncle, verruca, and cancer. The medicinal and health value is high, and it has been included in the list of medicinal and food sources in China, which has a large development and application space. This article reviews the current research achievements in the processing methods and anti-tumor activities of Coix seed and provides examples of its clinical application in ancient and modern times, aiming to provide reference for further research on Coix seed and contribute to its clinical application and development. Through the analysis of the traditional Chinese patent medicines, and simple preparations and related health food of Coix seed queried by Yaozhi.com, the source, function, and dosage form of Coix seed were comprehensively analyzed, with a view of providing a reference for the development of Coix seed medicine and food.