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Kurowska N, Madej M, Strzalka-Mrozik B. Thymoquinone: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 46:121-139. [PMID: 38248312 PMCID: PMC10814900 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year. The current standard of care is surgical resection of the lesion and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, of concern is the increasing incidence in an increasingly younger patient population and the ability of CRC cells to develop resistance to 5-FU. In this review, we discuss the effects of thymoquinone (TQ), one of the main bioactive components of Nigella sativa seeds, on CRC, with a particular focus on the use of TQ in combination therapy with other chemotherapeutic agents. TQ exhibits anti-CRC activity by inducing a proapoptotic effect and inhibiting proliferation, primarily through its effect on the regulation of signaling pathways crucial for tumor progression and oxidative stress. TQ can be used synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents to enhance their anticancer effects and to influence the expression of signaling pathways and other genes important in cancer development. These data appear to be most relevant for co-treatment with 5-FU. We believe that TQ is a suitable candidate for consideration in the chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy for CRC, but further studies, including clinical trials, are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kurowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (N.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Marcel Madej
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (N.K.); (M.M.)
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Barbara Strzalka-Mrozik
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (N.K.); (M.M.)
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Yu S, Wang S, Xiong B, Peng C. Gut microbiota: key facilitator in metastasis of colorectal cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1270991. [PMID: 38023192 PMCID: PMC10643165 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1270991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of incidence among all kinds of cancer. The main cause of death is metastasis. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiota could facilitate cancer metastasis by promoting cancer cells proliferation, invasion, dissemination, and survival. Multiple mechanisms have been implicated, such as RNA-mediated targeting effects, activation of tumor signaling cascades, secretion of microbiota-derived functional substances, regulation of mRNA methylation, facilitated immune evasion, increased intravasation of cancer cells, and remodeling of tumor microenvironment (TME). The understanding of CRC metastasis was further deepened by the mechanisms mentioned above. In this review, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota participates in the process of CRC metastasis were reviewed as followed based on recent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuyi Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Xiong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunwei Peng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China
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Zhang YF, Huang J, Zhang WX, Liu YH, Wang X, Song J, Jin CY, Zhang SY. Tubulin degradation: Principles, agents, and applications. Bioorg Chem 2023; 139:106684. [PMID: 37356337 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The microtubule system plays an important role in the mitosis and growth of eukaryotic cells, and it is considered as an appealing and highly successful molecular target for cancer treatment. In fact, microtubule targeting agents, such as paclitaxel and vinblastine, have been approved by FDA for tumor therapy, which have achieved significant therapeutic effects and sales performance. At present, microtubule targeting agents mainly include microtubule-destabilizing agents, microtubule-stabilizing agents, and a few tubulin degradation agents. Although there are few reports about tubulin degradation agents at present, tubulin degradation agents show great potential in overcoming multidrug resistance and reducing neurotoxicity. In addition, some natural drugs could specifically degrade tubulin in tumor cells, but have no effect in normal cells, thus showing a good biosafety profile. Therefore, tubulin degradation agents might exhibit a better application. Currently, some small molecules have been designed to promote tubulin degradation with potent antiproliferative activities, showing the potential for cancer treatment. In this work, we reviewed the reports on tubulin degradation, and focused on the degradation mechanism and important functional groups of chemically synthesized compounds, hoping to provide help for the degradation design of tubulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jiao Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Wei-Xin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yun-He Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jian Song
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Cheng-Yun Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Sai-Yang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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