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Reyes-Hernández OD, Figueroa-González G, Quintas-Granados LI, Hernández-Parra H, Peña-Corona SI, Cortés H, Kipchakbayeva A, Mukazhanova Z, Habtemariam S, Leyva-Gómez G, Büsselberg D, Sharifi-Rad J. New insights into the anticancer therapeutic potential of icaritin and its synthetic derivatives. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22175. [PMID: 38567708 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Icaritin is a natural prenylated flavonoid derived from the Chinese herb Epimedium. The compound has shown antitumor effects in various cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Icaritin exerts its anticancer activity by modulating multiple signaling pathways, such as IL-6/JAK/STAT3, ER-α36, and NF-κB, affecting the tumor microenvironment and immune system. Several clinical trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of icaritin in advanced HCC patients with poor prognoses, who are unsuitable for conventional therapies. The results have demonstrated that icaritin can improve survival, delay progression, and produce clinical benefits in these patients, with a favorable safety profile and minimal adverse events. Moreover, icaritin can enhance the antitumor immune response by regulating the function and phenotype of various immune cells, such as CD8+ T cells, MDSCs, neutrophils, and macrophages. These findings suggest that icaritin is a promising candidate for immunotherapy in HCC and other cancers. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and optimal dosing regimens of icaritin and its potential synergistic effects with other agents. Therefore, this comprehensive review of the scientific literature aims to summarize advances in the knowledge of icaritin in preclinical and clinical studies as well as the pharmacokinetic, metabolism, toxicity, and mechanisms action to recognize the main challenge, gaps, and opportunities to develop a medication that cancer patients can use. Thus, our main objective was to clarify the current state of icaritin for use as an anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Daniel Reyes-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, UMIEZ, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Figueroa-González
- Laboratorio de Farmacogenética, UMIEZ, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Laura Itzel Quintas-Granados
- Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades, Plantel Cuautepec, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. Ciudad de México, México, México
| | - Hector Hernández-Parra
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Departamento de Farmacología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sheila I Peña-Corona
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hernán Cortés
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Aliya Kipchakbayeva
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhazira Mukazhanova
- Higher School of IT and Natural Sciences, Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research & Herbal Analysis Services UK, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, London, UK
| | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Ao X, Luo C, Zhang M, Liu L, Peng S. The efficacy of natural products for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14411. [PMID: 38073436 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originating in the nasopharyngeal epithelium with a high incidence in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia. The current treatment methods are mainly radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, they often have side effects and are not suitable for long-term exposure. Natural products have received more and more attention in cancer prevention and treatment because of their its high efficiency, low toxic side effects, and low toxicity. Natural products can serve as a viable alternative, and this study aimed to review the efficacy and mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of NPC by examining previous literature. Most natural products act by inhibiting cell proliferation, metastasis, inducing cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Although further research is needed to verify their effectiveness and safety, natural products can significantly improve the treatment of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Ao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao Luo
- Medical Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengni Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lisha Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shunlin Peng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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胡 桐, 勾 文, 任 中, 刘 改, 李 祎, 左 代, 侯 文. [Icaritin increases radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by regulating iron death]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2023; 43:1665-1673. [PMID: 37933641 PMCID: PMC10630213 DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2023.10.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the radiosensitizing effect of icaritin on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS MTT assay and clonal formation assay were used to evaluate the effect of icaritin on proliferation of human NPC HONE1 and HNE1 cells. The effects of icaritin treatment, γ-ray radiation, or both on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of the NPC cells were assessed using flow cytometry. The expressions of DNA damage markers γ-H2AX, cycle-related proteins CDC25C, p-CDC25C and cyclin B1, and ferroptosis markers ACSL4 and GXP4 were detected using Western blotting. A nude mouse model bearing subcutaneous HONE1 cell xenograft was used to observe the effect of icaritin and radiation on tumor growth. RESULTS Icaritin dose-dependently inhibited the viability of the NPC cells and enhanced the inhibitory effect of radiation on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry and Western blotting showed that icaritin treatment prior to radiation significantly promoted ROS production and γ-H2AX expression in the NPC cells (P<0.001). Compared with radiation exposure alone, the combined treatment caused cell cycle arrest in G2 phase, down-regulated CDC25C and cyclin B1 expression, and up-regulated p-CDC25C expression in the cells (P<0.01), resulting also in increased cell apoptosis, enhanced expression of ferroptosis protein ACSL4 and lowered expression of GXP4 (P<0.001). In the tumor-bearing mice, icaritin treatment, compared with radiation alone, significantly reduced the tumor growth rate and decreased tumor weight (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Icaritin can enhance radiosensitivity of NPC cells both in vitro and in nude mice possibly by enhancing ROS production to promote iron death of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- 桐 胡
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
- 沈阳药科大学生命科学与生物制药学院,辽宁 沈阳 110016School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - 文峰 勾
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - 中昊 任
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
- 沈阳药科大学生命科学与生物制药学院,辽宁 沈阳 110016School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - 改廷 刘
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - 祎亮 李
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - 代英 左
- 沈阳药科大学生命科学与生物制药学院,辽宁 沈阳 110016School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - 文彬 侯
- 中国医学科学院放射医学研究所天津市放射医学与分子核医学重点实验室,天津 300192Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
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