Anticancer Effects of Cinnamic Acid in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line H1299-Derived Stem-Like Cells

Interactions between Dietary Antioxidants, Dietary Fiber and the Gut Microbiome: Their Putative Role in Inflammation and Cancer

The intricate relationship between the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome and the progression of chronic non-communicable diseases underscores the significance of developing strategies to modulate the GI microbiota for promoting human health. The administration of probiotics and prebiotics represents a good strategy that enhances the population of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal lumen post-consumption, which has a positive impact on human health. In addition, dietary fibers serve as a significant energy source for bacteria inhabiting the cecum and colon. Research articles and reviews sourced from various global databases were systematically analyzed using specific phrases and keywords to investigate these relationships. There is a clear association between dietary fiber intake and improved colon function, gut motility, and reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Moreover, the state of health is reflected in the reciprocal and bidirectional relationships among food, dietary antioxidants, inflammation, and body composition. They are known for their antioxidant properties and their ability to inhibit angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell proliferation. Additionally, they promote cell survival, modulate immune and inflammatory responses, and inactivate pro-carcinogens. These actions collectively contribute to their role in cancer prevention. In different investigations, antioxidant supplements containing vitamins have been shown to lower the risk of specific cancer types. In contrast, some evidence suggests that taking antioxidant supplements can increase the risk of developing cancer. Ultimately, collaborative efforts among immunologists, clinicians, nutritionists, and dietitians are imperative for designing well-structured nutritional trials to corroborate the clinical efficacy of dietary therapy in managing inflammation and preventing carcinogenesis. This review seeks to explore the interrelationships among dietary antioxidants, dietary fiber, and the gut microbiome, with a particular focus on their potential implications in inflammation and cancer.

Targeting Cervical Cancer Stem Cells by Phytochemicals

Cervical cancer (CaCx) poses a significant global health challenge, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Despite the emergence of advanced treatment strategies, recurrence remains a bottleneck in favorable treatment outcomes and contributes to poor prognosis. The chemo- or radio-therapy resistance coupled with frequent relapse of more aggressive tumors are some key components that contribute to CaCx-related mortality. The onset of therapy resistance and relapse are attributed to a small subset of, slow-proliferating Cancer Stem Cells (CSC). These CSCs possess the properties of tumorigenesis, self-renewal, and multi-lineage differentiation potential. Because of slow cycling, these cells maintain themselves in a semi-quiescent stage and protect themselves from different anti-proliferative anti-cancer drugs. Keeping in view recent advances in their phenotypic and functional characterization, the feasibility of targeting CSC and associated stem cell signaling bears a strong translational value. The presence of CSC has been reported in CaCx (CCSC) which remains a forefront area of research. However, we have yet to identify clinically useful leads that can target CCSC. There is compelling evidence that phytochemicals, because of their advantages over synthetic anticancer drugs, could emerge as potential therapeutic leads to target these CCSCs. The present article examined the potential of phytochemicals with reported anti-CSC properties and evaluated their future in preclinical and clinical applications against CaCx.

Anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory potencies of cinnamon oil on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice

Cinnamon is a well-known natural spice and flavoring substance used worldwide. The objective of the present work is to explore the possible antitumor and immunomodulatory potencies of cinnamon essential oil (Cinn) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). A total of fifty female Swiss albino mice were sub-grouped into five groups (n = 10), namely, normal (a non-tumorized and non-treated) group; EAC-tumorized and non-treated group; Cinn (non-tumorized mice received Cinn, 50 mg/kg per body weight daily) group; a group of EAC-tumorized mice treated with Cinn and the final positive control group of EAC-tumorized mice received cisplatin. Eight compounds were identified from Cinn using UPLC-MS-Qtof and NMR analysis. Compared to EAC untreated group, Cinn successfully (P < 0.05) inhibited tumor growth by reducing tumor cell count (45%), viability (53%) and, proliferation accompanied by the inhibition of tumor growth rate. Moreover, a significant (P < 0.05) arrest in the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase was noticed following Cinn treatments (~ 24.5%) compared to EAC group. Moreover, Cinn markedly evoked an antitumor immune response by elevating the percentage of splenic T helper (CD3+CD4+) and T cytotoxic (CD3+CD8+) cells. It is noteworthy that Cinn treatments significantly restored different hematological alterations as well as liver and kidney functions in EAC-tumorized mice. In conclusion, results suggest that Cinn has a good antitumor and immunostimulatory potencies against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo. The mechanism underlying its antitumor activity may be attributed to its immunostimulatory effects which increase its potential as a promising anticancer candidate.

ctc-[Pt(NH3)2(cinnamate)(valproate)Cl2] is a highly potent and low-toxic triple action anticancer prodrug

Pt(iv) prodrugs have gained tremendous attention due to their indisputable advantages compared to cisplatin. Herein, new Pt(iv) derivatives with cinnamic acid at the first axial position, and inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9, histone deacetylase, cyclooxygenase or pyruvate dehydrogenase at the second axial position are constructed to develop multi-action prodrugs. We demonstrate that Pt(iv) prodrugs are reducible and have superior antiproliferative activity with IC50 values at submicromolar concentrations. Notably, Pt(iv) prodrugs exhibit highly potent anti-tumour activity in an in vivo breast cancer model. Our results support the view that a triple-action Pt(iv) prodrug acts via a synergistic mechanism, which involves the effects of CDDP and the effects of axial moieties, thus jointly leading to the death of tumour cells. These findings provide a practical strategy for the rational design of more effective Pt(iv) prodrugs to efficiently kill tumour cells by enhancing their cellular accumulation and tuning their canonical mechanism.

Biolabel-led research pattern positions the effects and mechanisms of Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome on lung diseases: A novel strategy for computer-aided herbal medicine research based on omics and bioinformatics

Previous studies have shown that Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome (ST) can be used to treat some lung diseases. However, the therapeutic potentials, therapeutic advantages, mechanism of action, and material basis of ST treatment of lung diseases remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to carry out an integrated analysis based on the biolabel-led research pattern. Proteomics and metabonomics were applied to explore the biolabels responsible for the effect of ST on lung tissue. Based on the biolabels, a bioinformatics database was used to topologically analyze the therapeutic potentials, therapeutic advantages, mechanism of action, and material basis of ST in treating lung diseases. Four human lung-cancer cell models were used to validate the results of the biolabel analysis. In total, 45 proteins and 3 metabolites were significantly enriched in 13 pathways and were considered as biolabels. Bioinformatics revealed that the therapeutic potentials of ST involved a variety of lung diseases, especially lung neoplasms. Under the mediation of 40 biolabels, 29 compounds may be the material basis of ST in treating lung diseases. In a verification experiment, ST had a significant inhibitory effect on the H226 cell line (lung squamous cell carcinoma), which ranks first in morbidity and mortality among lung cancers in China. Additionally, five biolabels (CPS1, CKM, CPT1B, COX5B, and COX4I1) were involved in the anti-lung cancer mechanism of ST and 3 compounds (gallic acid, betulinic acid, and caffeic acid). These findings indicate that the biolabel-led research pattern was helpful in achieving the objectives of this study.

A Multi-action PtIV Conjugate with Oleate and Cinnamate Ligands Targets Human Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor HER2 in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells

HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive subtype that typically responds poorly to standard chemotherapy. To design an anticancer drug selective for HER2-expressing breast cancer, a Pt^IV prodrug with axial oleate and cinnamate ligands was synthesized. We demonstrate its superior antiproliferative activity in monolayer and 3D spheroid models; the antiproliferative efficiency increases gradually with increasing expression of HER2. The results also suggest that the released Pt^II compound inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells by a DNA-damage-mediated mechanism. Simultaneously, the released oleic and cinnamic acid can effectively inhibit HER2 expression. To our knowledge, this is the first platinum-based complex inhibiting HER2 expression that does not contain protein or peptide. Moreover, this Pt^IV prodrug is capable of overcoming the resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), inducing death in both CSCs and differentiated cancer cells. Thus, the results substantiate our design strategy and demonstrate the potential of this approach for the development of new, therapeutically relevant compounds.

Alleviation of Multidrug Resistance by Flavonoid and Non-Flavonoid Compounds in Breast, Lung, Colorectal and Prostate Cancer

The aim of the manuscript is to discuss the influence of plant polyphenols in overcoming multidrug resistance in four types of solid cancers (breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer). Effective treatment requires the use of multiple toxic chemotherapeutic drugs with different properties and targets. However, a major cause of cancer treatment failure and metastasis is the development of multidrug resistance. Potential mechanisms of multidrug resistance include increase of drug efflux, drug inactivation, detoxification mechanisms, modification of drug target, inhibition of cell death, involvement of cancer stem cells, dysregulation of miRNAs activity, epigenetic variations, imbalance of DNA damage/repair processes, tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and modulation of reactive oxygen species. Taking into consideration that synthetic multidrug resistance agents have failed to demonstrate significant survival benefits in patients with different types of cancer, recent research have focused on beneficial effects of natural compounds. Several phenolic compounds (flavones, phenolcarboxylic acids, ellagitannins, stilbens, lignans, curcumin, etc.) act as chemopreventive agents due to their antioxidant capacity, inhibition of proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis, modulation of immune and inflammatory responses or inactivation of pro-carcinogens. Moreover, preclinical and clinical studies revealed that these compounds prevent multidrug resistance in cancer by modulating different pathways. Additional research is needed regarding the role of phenolic compounds in the prevention of multidrug resistance in different types of cancer.

Recent advances of analogues of curcumin for treatment of cancer

Curcumin (CU), an edible natural pigment from Curcuma Longa, has demonstrated extensive anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. With the property of reversing drug resistance and low toxicity, CU has been considered to develop a new adjuvant chemotherapy protocol of cancer. However, the poor stability, solubility, in vivo bioavailability and weak activity of CU greatly limit its clinical application. Therefore, CU analogues have been extensively studied. Starting from the study of natural CU analogues, multiple approaches are being sought to obtain more stable, soluble and effective analogues of CU. This review focuses on the progress of these approaches to more potent CU analogues.

Effect of Cinnamic acid and FOLFOX in diminishing side population and downregulating cancer stem cell markers in colon cancer cell line HT-29

PURPOSE

There is a lot of evidence suggesting that a small subset of cancer cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for promoting metastasis and cancer relapse. Therefore, targeting and eliminating the CSCs could lead to higher survival rates and a better quality of life. In comparison with conventional chemical drugs that may not be effective against CSCs, phytochemicals are strong anti-CSCs agents. The current study examines the effect of 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) as a common chemotherapy drug on colorectal cancer as well as the influence of Cinnamic acid (CINN) as a plant-derived phytochemical on colon cancer stem-like cells in HT-29 adenocarcinoma cell line.

METHODS

The anti-proliferative effect of FOLFOX and CINN was determined using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Flow cytometry analysis was used for the identification of side population (SP), CD44, and CD133 positive cells. The expression of OCT4, NANOG, ABCB1, and ALDH1A was assessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The FOLFOX and CINN decreased cell viability in certain drug concentrations: IC50 = 5,40 μM oxaliplatin +220 μM 5-fluorouracil, and 13,50 mM for CINN. The CSC-associated markers (OCT4, NANOG, ABCB1, and ALDH1A) and the proportion of cancer stem-like cells (SP cells, CD44, and CD133 positive cells) were downregulated following the treatment of HT-29 adenocarcinoma cell line with IC50 concentrations of FOLFOX and CINN.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggests that CINN, a naturally occurring component, could be more effective than FOLFOX treatment in reducing the cancer stem-like cells and expression of CSC markers from HT-29 colon cancer cells. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Assessing the anticancer effects associated with food products and/or nutraceuticals using in vitro and in vivo preclinical development-related pharmacological tests

This review is part of a special issue entitled "Role of dietary pattern, foods, nutrients and nutraceuticals in supporting cancer prevention and treatment" and describes a pharmacological strategy to determine the potential contribution of food-related components as anticancer agents against established cancer. Therefore, this review does not relate to chemoprevention, which is analysed in several other reviews in the current special issue, but rather focuses on the following: i) the biological events that currently represent barriers against the treatment of certain types of cancers, primarily metastatic cancers; ii) the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological pre-clinical tests that can be used to analyse the potential anticancer effects of food-related components; and iii) several examples of food-related components with anticancer effects. This review does not represent a catalogue-based listing of food-related components with more or less anticancer activity. By contrast, this review proposes an original pharmacological strategy that researchers can use to analyse the potential anticancer activity of any food-related component-e.g., by considering the crucial characteristics of cancer biological aggressiveness. This review also highlights that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy should restrict the use of "food complements" without supervision by a medical nutritionist. By contrast, an equilibrated diet that includes the food-related components listed herein would be beneficial for cancer patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy.