Effect of curcumin and paclitaxel on breast carcinogenesis

Suppression of B7-H7 Enhanced MCF-7 Cancer Cell Line's Chemosensitivity to Paclitaxel

The B7-H7 is the newest addition to the B7 family of proteins that is present in the majority of malignancies. In this respect, the goal of the work was to investigate the impact of B7-H7 inhibition on breast cancer cells when paclitaxel and small interference RNA (siRNA) were combined. B7-H7 siRNA was used with Paclitaxel to treat MCF-7 cells. The IC50 of Paclitaxel and the cell survival was then assessed through using MTT assay. Investigation was conducted using flow cytometry to both the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle. In addition, the clonogenic capacity of MCF-7 cells was investigated. Furthermore, qRT-PCR, was used to evaluate expression of genes. Our results demonstrated that suppressing B7-H7 sensitizes MCF-7 cells to Paclitaxel by triggering apoptosis and altering the expression of critical apoptosis mediator genes. In addition, the cell cycle was stopped in the sub-G1 and also G2-M phases as a result of the combination therapy leading prevention of developing colonies by MCF-7 cells. B7-H7 silencing improved the chemosensitivity of MCF-7 cells to Paclitaxel and demonstrated antiproliferative effects. After the adequate study has been conducted, this strategy may be regarded as a possible alternative treatment option for this cancer.

Liposome bilayer stability: emphasis on cholesterol and its alternatives

Liposomes are spherical lipidic nanocarriers composed of natural or synthetic phospholipids with a hydrophobic bilayer and aqueous core, which are arranged into a polar head and a long hydrophobic tail, forming an amphipathic nano/micro-particle. Despite numerous liposomal applications, their use encounters many challenges related to the physicochemical properties strongly affected by their constituents, colloidal stability, and interactions with the biological environment. This review aims to provide a perspective and a clear idea about the main factors that regulate the liposomes' colloidal and bilayer stability, emphasising the roles of cholesterol and its possible alternatives. Moreover, this review will analyse strategies that offer possible approaches to provide more stable in vitro and in vivo liposomes with enhanced drug release and encapsulation efficiencies.

Metadherin inhibits chemosensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer to paclitaxel via activation of AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has an aggressive clinical course, and paclitaxel (PTX)-based chemotherapy remains the main therapeutic drug. Metadherin (MTDH) acts as an oncogene that regulates proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance. This study aimed to investigate whether TNBC chemosensitivity to PTX was related to the MTDH/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) pathway. Clinical baseline characteristics and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to evaluate the expression and prognosis of MTDH and AKT (protein kinase B, PKB) in TNBC patient samples. MTDH shRNA, MTDH overexpression vector, MK-2206, and PTX intervention were used in cell models and mouse tumor-bearing models. Afterwards, mRNA and protein levels were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Evaluate the level of tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle using flow cytometry. Cell viability was detected using Cell Count Kit 8. The in vivo imaging system is used to analyze the growth of tumors. We found that higher expression of MTDH or AKT resulted in poorer disease-free survival and a lower Miller-Payne grade. MTDH promotes cell proliferation and increases p-AKT and p-GSK-3β expression in TNBC cells. Notably, suppression of AKT terminated MTDH overexpression-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis. MTDH knockdown or the AKT inhibitor MK2206 reduced the p-AKT and p-GSK-3β ratio, reduced cell viability and proliferation, increased cell apoptosis, and increased chemosensitivity to PTX. In vivo, xenograft tumors of an MTDH knockdown+MK2206 group treated with PTX were the smallest compared to other groups. In short, MTDH inhibits TNBC chemosensitivity to PTX by activating the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

4-methylthiobutyl isothiocyanate synergize the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of paclitaxel in human breast cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is considered as a major obstacle in achieving an effective treatment of breast cancer. Paclitaxel has been used to treat cancers of the cervical, breast, ovarian and brain but MDR limits its therapeutic potential. Phytochemicals have received much interest in recent decades especially in combination approaches to tackle MDR due to their negligible harm to healthy cells and synergistic potential. Considering this notion, the present study aimed at investigating the synergistic activity of 4-MTBITC and PTX against a panel of breast cancer cells. Our results revealed that the combination had a significant antiproliferative activity against T-47D cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that 4-MTBITC and PTX also promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. In the presence of 4-MTBITC- PTX, T-47D cells were found to be arrested in the G2/M phase which also confirmed the enhancement of late apoptotic cell population in the flow cytometer analysis. In western blot experiment, the combination had a significant decrease in Bcl-xl protein level, whereas a higher level of p53, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9 proteins compared to individual treatment in T-47D cells. The RT-qPCR analysis also showed that the combination had significant upregulation in the gene expression of p53, cytochrome-c, Apaf-1 and downregulation in the expression of Bcl-2 gene in T-47D cells. Hence, all the results showed that a combination of 4-MTBITC-PTX significantly enhanced the apoptosis pathway in the T-47D cell line which indicates its clinical application for the treatment of breast cancer.Abbreviations: Apaf-1: Apoptotic protease activating factor 1; AO/EB: Acridine orange/ethidium bromide; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; CI: Combination Index; Cyt-c: Cytochrome c; CO2: Carbon dioxide; DCFH-DA 2,7-Dichloroflourescein diacetate; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; EA: Early apoptosis; EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; L929: Normal mouse fibroblast cells; LA: Late apoptosis; L: Live; 4-MTBITC: 4-methylthiobutyl isothiocyanate; MCF-7: Human breast cancer cells; MDA-MB-231: Human triple negative breast cancer cells; MMP: Mitochondria membrane potential; MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte-trazolium bromide; NCCS: National Centre for Cell Science; N: Necrotic; PTX Paclitaxel; PVDF: Polyvinylidene fluoride; PAGE: Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline; RPMI-1640: Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium- 1640; RT-qPCR: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; Rh-123: Rhodamine123; g Relative centrifugal force; SDS: Sodium dodecyl sulphate; SEM: Scanning electron microscopy; T-47D: Human estrogen positive breast cancer cells; WB: Western blotting.

Fabrication, Optimization, and Evaluation of Paclitaxel and Curcumin Coloaded PLGA Nanoparticles for Improved Antitumor Activity

Codelivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in nanoparticles can enhance the therapeutic effects against tumors. However, their anticancer properties and physiochemical characteristics can be severely influenced by many formulation parameters during the preparation process. It is a complicated development phase to select the optimal parameters for preparation of nanoparticles based on the commonly used one single parameter method, which consumes a lot of money, time, and effort, and sometimes even fails. Therefore, the statistical analysis based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) has attracted much attention in bioengineering fields because it can illustrate the influence of parameters, build mathematical models, and predict the optimal combinational factors in a decreased number of experiments. In this study, we used a three-factor three-level BBD design to optimize the preparation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles coloaded with two anticancer drugs curcumin and paclitaxel (PLGA-CUR-PTX nanoparticles). The surfactant concentration, polymer concentration, and oil-water ratio were selected as independent variables. An optimized model of the formulation for PLGA-CUR-PTX nanoparticles was validated. The optimal nanoparticles possessed a uniform spherical shape, with an average size of 99.94 nm, and the drug encapsulation efficiencies of CUR and PTX were 63.53 and 80.64%, respectively. The drug release from nanoparticles showed a biphasic release behavior, with a release mechanism via diffusion and fundamentally quasi-Fickian diffusion. The optimized nanoparticles demonstrated an enhanced cytotoxicity effect with lower IC₅₀ values to 4T1 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines compared to free drugs. In summary, BBD optimization of CUR and PTX coloaded nanoparticles yielded a favorable drug carrier that holds potential as an alternative treatment for anticancer therapy.

Anti-leukemic effect of menthol, a peppermint compound, on induction of apoptosis and autophagy

Background

Menthol, a natural compound in peppermint leaves, has several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer properties. This study revealed the anti-leukemic effects and its underlying mechanisms of the menthol related apoptosis signaling pathway and autophagy in both NB4 and Molt-4 leukemic cell lines.

Methods

Both leukemic cells were treated with menthol in various concentration. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay, whereas apoptosis and autophagy were analyzed by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI and anti-LC3/FITC antibodies staining, respectively. Apoptotic and autophagic related gene and protein expression were detected using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Moreover, STITCH database was used to predicts the interaction between menthol and proposed proteins.

Results

Menthol significantly decreased cell viability in NB4 and Molt-4 cell lines in dose dependent manner. In combination of menthol and daunorubicin, synergistic cytotoxic effects were observed in leukemic cells. However, there was a minimal effect found on normal, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, menthol significantly induced apoptosis induction via upregulation of caspase-3, BAX, p53 and downregulation of MDM2 mRNA expression. Autophagy was also induced by menthol through upregulating ATG3 and downregulating mTOR mRNA expression. For protein expression, menthol significantly increased caspase-3 whereas decreased mTOR in both leukemic cells. Conclusions. These results suggest that menthol exhibits cytotoxic activities by inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and autophagy through activating the caspase cascade, altering BAX and p53/MDM2, and regulating autophagy via the ATG3/mTOR signaling pathway.

Synthesis of Carrier-Free Paclitaxel-Curcumin Nanoparticles: The Role of Curcuminoids

The systemic administration of paclitaxel (PTX)-based combinatorial therapies is significantly restricted due to the multidrug resistance. Curcumin (CUR) not only inhibits cancer-cell proliferation but also reverses the PTX resistance. However, achieving codelivery of these two drugs is a challenge due to their poor water solubility. Herein, we synthesized carrier-free PTX NPs by a facile nanoprecipitation method with the help of CUR and other curcuminoids present in turmeric extract. The prepared NPs demonstrated spherical morphologies with high conformational stability. Experimental studies showed that the presence of both bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin is essential for the successful formation of spherical and monodisperse NPs. Computational studies revealed that the presence of the more sterically available curcuminoids BMC and DMC makes the self-assembly procedure more adaptable with a higher number of potential conformations that could give rise to more monodisperse PTX-CUR NPs. Compared with PTX alone, PTX-CUR NPs have shown comparable therapeutic efficiency in vitro and demonstrated a higher cellular internalization, highlighting their potential for in vivo applications. The successful formation of PTX-CUR NPs and the understanding of how multiple drugs behave at the molecular level also provide guidance for developing formulations for the synthesis of high-quality and effective carrier-free nanosystems for biomedical applications.

Curcumin arrests G-quadruplex in the nuclear hyper-sensitive III1 element of c-MYC oncogene leading to apoptosis in metastatic breast cancer cells

c-MYC is deregulated in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) pointing to be a promising biomarker for breast cancer treatment. Precise level of MYC expression is important in the control of cellular growth and proliferation. Designing of c-MYC-targeted antidotes to restore its basal level of cellular expression holds an optimistic approach towards anti-cancer treatment. MYC transcription is dominantly controlled by Nuclear Hypersensitive Element III-1 (NHE_III1) upstream of the promoter region possessing G-Quadruplex silencer element (Pu-27). We have investigated the selective binding-interaction profile of a natural phytophenolic compound Curcumin with native MYC G-quadruplex by conducting an array of biophysical experiments and in silico based Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic (MDs) simulation studies. Curcumin possesses immense anti-cancerous properties. We have observed significantly increased stability of MYC-G Quadruplex and thermodynamic spontaneity of Curcumin-MYC GQ binding with negative ΔG value. Transcription of MYC is tightly regulated by a complex mechanism involving promoters, enhancers and multiple transcription factors. We have used Curcumin as a model drug to understand the innate mechanism of controlling deregulated MYC back to its basal expression level. We have checked MYC-expression at transcriptional and translational level and proceeded for Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation assay (ChIP) to study the occupancy level of SP1, Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK), Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase 2 (NM23-H2) and Nucleolin at NHE_III1 upon Curcumin treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells. We have concluded that Curcumin binding tends to drive the equilibrium towards stable G-quadruplex formation repressing MYC back to its threshold-level. On retrospection of the synergistic effect of upregulated c-MYC and BCL-2 in cancer, we have also reported a new pathway [MYC-E2F-1-BCL-2-axis] through which Curcumin trigger apoptosis in cancer cells.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Anti-lung cancer effect of paclitaxel solid lipid nanoparticles delivery system with curcumin as co-loading partner in vitro and in vivo

The main aim of this study was to improve the therapeutic potential of a paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CU) combination regimen using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). PTX and CU were successfully co-encapsulated at a predetermined ratio in SLNs (PC-SLNs) with high encapsulation efficiency (CU: 97.6%, PTX: 95.8%), appropriate particle size (121.8 ± 1.69 nm), small PDI (0.267 ± 0.023), and negative zeta potential (–30.4 ± 1.25 mV). Compared with PTX or the combination of CU and PTX (CU + PTX), PC-SLNs can greatly reduce the dose of PTX while still achieving the same therapeutic effect on four cancer cell lines, among which the inhibitory effect on A549 lung cancer cells was the strongest. PC-SLNs improved the area under the curve (CU: 1.40-fold; PTX: 2.88-fold), prolonged the residence time (CU: 6.94-fold; PTX: 2.51-fold), and increased the half-life (CU: 5.62-fold; PTX: 6.46-fold), achieving long circulation. PC-SLNs were used to treat lung cancer in a nude mouse xenograft tumor model and the tumor suppression rate reached 78.42%, while those of PTX and (CU + PTX) were 40.53% and 51.56%, respectively. As PC-SLNs can prevent P-glycoprotein efflux, reverse MDR and downregulate the NF-κB pathway. PC-SLNs are a potential antineoplastic agent that is more effective and less toxic in treating lung cancer.

The antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of Clinacanthus nutans against human breast cancer cells through targeted apoptosis pathway

Clinacanthus nutans dichloromethane fraction (CN-Dcm) extract has previously been proven to suppress breast cancer (MCF7) cell proliferation. Despite this, the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis mechanisms involved in C. nutans extract-treated MCF7 cells are still unknown. This study was intended to subfractionate CN-Dcm extract using column chromatography and analyse the treated MCF7 cells using the CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation (MTS) assay, Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay, western blot, and reverse transcription-qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Out of nine subfraction extracts (SF1 to SF9), SF2 extract strongly inhibited MCF7 cells with the lowest IC50 value (23.51 ± 1.00 µg/mL) and substantially induced apoptosis in the MCF7 cells. In treated MCF7 cells, SF2 extract significantly upregulated the expression of P53, BAX, BID, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, while downregulating the expression of BCL2. The presence of potential bioactive chemical compounds in the SF2 extract was identified using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Thus, the SF2 extract has the potential to induce apoptosis in MCF7 cells through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

Curcumin Modulates Oxidative Stress, Fibrosis, and Apoptosis in Drug-Resistant Cancer Cell Lines

In cancer management, drug resistance remains a challenge that reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Several studies have shown that curcumin resensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs to overcome resistance. In the present study, we investigate the potential therapeutic role of curcumin in regulating the proliferation of drug-resistant cancers. Six drug-sensitive (MCF7, HCT116, and A549) and -resistant (MCF7/TH, HCT116R, and A549/ADR) cancer cell lines were treated with curcumin followed by an analysis of cytotoxicity, LDH enzyme, total reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), fibrosis markers (TGF-β1 protein, fibronectin, and hydroxyproline), and expression of cellular apoptotic markers (Bcl-2, Bax, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, Annexin V, cytochrome c, and caspase-8). Additionally, the expression of cellular SIRT1 was estimated by ELISA and RT-PCR analysis. Curcumin treatment at doses of 2.7–54.3 µM significantly reduced the growth of sensitive and resistant cells as supported with decreased viability and increased cellular LDH enzyme of treated cells compared to controls non-treated cells. Curcumin also at doses of 2.7 and 54.3 µM regulated the fibrogenesis by reducing the expression of fibrotic markers in treated cells. Analysis of apoptotic markers indicated increased Bax, Bax, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, Annexin V, caspase-8, and cytochrome c expression, while Bcl-2 expressions were significantly reduced. In curcumin-treated cells at 2.7 μM, non-significant change in ROS with significant increase in SOD and CAT activity was observed, whereas an increase in ROS with a reduction in respective antioxidant enzymes were seen at higher concentrations along with significant upregulation of SIRT1. In conclusion, the present study shows that curcumin induces anticancer activity against resistant cancer cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The protective activities of curcumin against the growth of cancer cells are mediated by modulating oxidative stress, regulating fibrosis, SIRT1 activation, and inducing cellular apoptosis. Therefore, curcumin could be tested as an auxiliary therapeutic agent to improve the prognosis in patients with resistant cancers.

Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Background

Tumors often progress to a more aggressive phenotype to resist drugs. Multiple dysregulated pathways are behind this tumor behavior which is known as cancer chemoresistance. Thus, there is an emerging need to discover pivotal signaling pathways involved in the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cancer immunotherapy. Reports indicate the critical role of the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) pathway in cancer initiation, progression, and development. Therefore, targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling is a promising strategy to augment cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy and to combat chemoresistance. Considering the potential of phytochemicals in the regulation of multiple dysregulated pathways during cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, such compounds could be suitable candidates against cancer chemoresistance.

Objectives

This is the first comprehensive and systematic review regarding the role of phytochemicals in the mitigation of chemoresistance by regulating the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review was designed based on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane electronic databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to include papers on TLR/NF-κB/NLRP and chemotherapy/immunotherapy/chemoresistance by phytochemicals.

Results

Phytochemicals are promising multi-targeting candidates against the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway and interconnected mediators. Employing phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur compounds could be a promising strategy for managing cancer chemoresistance through the modulation of the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway. Novel delivery systems of phytochemicals in cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling with bioactive phytocompounds reverses chemoresistance and improves the outcome for chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both preclinical and clinical stages.

Modulatory Effects of Biosynthesized Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated with Curcumin and Paclitaxel on Tumorigenesis and Metastatic Pathways-In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women globally, and diagnosing it early and finding potential drug candidates against multi-drug resistant metastatic breast cancers provide the possibilities of better treatment and extending life. Methods: The current study aimed to evaluate the synergistic anti-metastatic activity of Curcumin (Cur) and Paclitaxel (Pacli) individually, the combination of Curcumin–Paclitaxel (CP), and also in conjugation with gold nanoparticles (AuNP–Curcumin (Au-C), AuNP–Paclitaxel (Au-P), and AuNP–Curcumin–Paclitaxel (Au-CP)) in various in vitro and in vivo models. Results: The results from combination treatments of CP and Au-CP demonstrated excellent synergistic cytotoxic effects in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines (MDA MB 231 and 4T1) in in vitro and in vivo mouse models. Detailed mechanistic studies were performed that reveal that the anti-cancer effects were associated with the downregulation of the expression of VEGF, CYCLIN-D1, and STAT-3 genes and upregulation of the apoptotic Caspase-9 gene. The group of mice that received CP combination therapy (with and without gold nanoparticles) showed a significant reduction in the size of tumor when compared to the Pacli alone treatment and control groups. Conclusions: Together, the results suggest that the delivery of gold conjugated Au-CP formulations may help in modulating the outcomes of chemotherapy. The present study is well supported with observations from cell-based assays, molecular and histopathological analyses.

Curcumin as an Enhancer of Therapeutic Efficiency of Chemotherapy Drugs in Breast Cancer

Female breast cancer is the world’s most prevalent cancer in 2020. Chemotherapy still remains a backbone in breast cancer therapy and is crucial in advanced and metastatic breast cancer treatment. The clinical efficiency of chemotherapy regimens is limited due to tumor heterogeneity, chemoresistance, and side effects. Chemotherapeutic drug combinations with natural products hold great promise for enhancing their anticancer efficacy. Curcumin is an ideal chemopreventive and chemotherapy agent owning to its multitargeting function on various regulatory molecules, key signaling pathways, and pharmacological safety. This review aimed to elucidate the potential role of curcumin in enhancing the efficacy of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin via combinational therapy. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensitizing activity of these combinations have been addressed. Overall, based on the promising therapeutic potential of curcumin in combination with conventional chemotherapy drugs, curcumin is of considerable value to develop as an adjunct for combination chemotherapy with current drugs to treat breast cancer. Furthermore, this topic may provide the frameworks for the future research direction of curcumin–chemotherapy combination studies and may benefit in the development of a novel therapeutic strategy to maximize the clinical efficacy of anticancer drugs while minimizing their side effects in the future breast cancer treatment.

Synthesis of small molecules targeting paclitaxel-induced MyD88 expression in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines

Acquired paclitaxel (PTX) chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be inferred from the overexpression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) proteins and the activation of the TLR4/MyD88 cascading signalling pathway. Finding a new inhibitor that can attenuate the activation of this pathway is a novel strategy for reducing PTX chemoresistance. In this study, a series of small molecule compounds were synthesised and tested in combination with PTX against TNBC cells. The trimethoxy-substituted compound significantly decreased MyD88 overexpression and improved PTX activity in MDA-MB-231^TLR4+ cells but not in HCC^TLR4- cells. On the contrary, the trifluoromethyl-substituted compound with PTX synergistically improved the growth inhibition in both TNBC subtypes. The fluorescence titrations indicated that both compounds could bind with MD2 with good and comparable binding affinities. This was further supported by docking analysis, in which both compounds fit perfectly well and form some critical binding interactions with MD2, an essential lipid-binding accessory to TLR4 involved in activating the TLR-4/MyD88-dependent pathway.

circGFRA1 affects the sensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer cells to paclitaxel via the miR-361-5p/TLR4 pathway

In recent years, the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tumours has attracted widespread attention. Some circRNAs have been reported to play a role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, circRNAs have rarely been reported in terms of TNBC resistance. This study aimed to clarify that circGFRA1 affects the sensitivity of TNBC cells to paclitaxel (PTX) by the miR-361-5p/TLR4 pathway. Compared with the non-PTX-resistant TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231, the expression of circGFRA1 in the PTX-resistant TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231.PR was significantly increased. The small hairpin RNA-mediated circGFRA1 knockdown inhibited the resistance of TNBC cells to PTX. RNA pull-down assay and luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the binding between circGFRA1 and miR-361-5p and between miR-361-5p and TLR4. It has been proven that circGFRA1 knockdown can inhibit the resistance of TNBC cells to PTX by promoting the expression of miR-361-5p, and subsequently reduce the expression of TLR4.

Genetic, biochemical and histopathological evaluations of thymoquinone on male reproduction system damaged by paclitaxel in Wistar rats

This study was aimed to evaluate therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on male reproductive damages induced by paclitaxel. Forty-eight male rats were divided; control, paclitaxel (4 mg/kg), paclitaxel + thymoquinone (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) and thymoquinone (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg). Paclitaxel and thymoquinone were administrated intraperitoneally for 4 and 14 days respectively. Then, the testes were removed for H&E staining, sperm parameters and apoptotic genes expression assessments. Serum levels of nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity and testosterone were evaluated, and sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed. Paclitaxel significantly (p < .05) increased nitric oxide, decreased total antioxidant capacity and reduced testosterone levels than control group. Sperm motility, viability and count were significantly (p < .05) reduced in paclitaxel group than control. Co-administration of thymoquinone + paclitaxel caused decreased levels of nitric oxide and increased total antioxidant capacity, testosterone levels and reproductive parameters than paclitaxel group significantly (p < .05). Paclitaxel significantly (p < .05) increased caspase-3 and p-53 and decreased Bcl-2 genes expression than control. Sperm DNA fragmentation index was also increased significantly (p < .05) in paclitaxel group than control, and this value was decreased in whole doses of paclitaxel + thymoquinone groups than paclitaxel. Thymoquinone can alleviate the side effects of paclitaxel on the male reproductive system.

Is Curcumin the Answer to Future Chemotherapy Cocktail?

The rise in cancer cases in recent years is an alarming situation worldwide. Despite the tremendous research and invention of new cancer therapies, the clinical outcomes are not always reassuring. Cancer cells could develop several evasive mechanisms for their survivability and render therapeutic failure. The continuous use of conventional cancer therapies leads to chemoresistance, and a higher dose of treatment results in even greater toxicities among cancer patients. Therefore, the search for an alternative treatment modality is crucial to break this viscous cycle. This paper explores the suitability of curcumin combination treatment with other cancer therapies to curb cancer growth. We provide a critical insight to the mechanisms of action of curcumin, its role in combination therapy in various cancers, along with the molecular targets involved. Curcumin combination treatments were found to enhance anticancer effects, mediated by the multitargeting of several signalling pathways by curcumin and the co-administered cancer therapies. The preclinical and clinical evidence in curcumin combination therapy is critically analysed, and the future research direction of curcumin combination therapy is discussed.

Curcumin: Modulator of Key Molecular Signaling Pathways in Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease, classified according to hormone and growth factor receptor expression. Patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-negative) and hormone-independent HER2 overexpressing subtypes still represent highly aggressive behavior, metastasis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance. Thus, new alternative anticancer agents based on the use of natural products have been receiving enormous attention. In this regard, curcumin is a promising lead in cancer drug discovery due its ability to modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and signaling pathways. The current review has emphasized the underlying mechanism of curcumin anticancer action mediated through the modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, MAPK, NF-ĸB, p53, Wnt/β-catenin, apoptosis, and cell cycle pathways in hormone-independent breast cancer, providing frameworks for future studies and insights to improve its efficiency in clinical practice.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Despite the overall successes in breast cancer therapy, hormone-independent HER2 negative breast cancer, also known as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking estrogens and progesterone receptors and with an excessive expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), along with the hormone-independent HER2 positive subtype, still remain major challenges in breast cancer treatment. Due to their poor prognoses, aggressive phenotype, and highly metastasis features, new alternative therapies have become an urgent clinical need. One of the most noteworthy phytochemicals, curcumin, has attracted enormous attention as a promising drug candidate in breast cancer prevention and treatment due to its multi-targeting effect. Curcumin interrupts major stages of tumorigenesis including cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis in hormone-independent breast cancer through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways. The current review has highlighted the anticancer activity of curcumin in hormone-independent breast cancer via focusing on its impact on key signaling pathways including the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, JAK/STAT pathway, MAPK pathway, NF-ĸB pathway, p53 pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin, as well as apoptotic and cell cycle pathways. Besides, its therapeutic implications in clinical trials are here presented.

New Insights Toward Nanostructured Drug Delivery of Plant-Derived Polyphenol Compounds: Cancer Treatment and Gene Expression Profiles

The increasing prevalence of cancer has led to the expansion of traditional medicine objectives for developing novel drug delivery systems. A wide range of plant-derived polyphenol bioactive substances have been investigated in order to explore anti-cancer effects of these natural compounds and to promote effective treatment of cancer through apoptosis induction. In this regard, plant-derived polyphenol compounds including curcumin, silibinin, quercetin, and resveratrol have been the subject of intense interest for anti-cancer applications due to their ability in regulating apoptotic genes. However, some limitations of pure polyphenol compounds, such as poor bioavailability, short-term stability, low-cellular uptake, and insufficient solubility, have restricted their efficiency. Nanoscale formulations of bioactive agents have provided a novel platform to address these limitations. This paper reviews recent advances in nanoformulation approaches of polyphenolic drugs, and their effects on improving the delivery of chemotherapy agents to cancer cells.

Combination treatment of bicalutamide and curcumin has a strong therapeutic effect on androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancers

Triple-negative breast cancers account for approximately 15-20% of breast cancer patients. Due to lack of expression of estrogen receptor, PR and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in triple-negative breast cancers, there are no targeted therapies available for these cancers. Therefore, a major research priority is to find potential therapeutic targets. Androgen receptor is present in 80-90% of all breast cancers, including 55% of estrogen receptor-α-negative cancers and 12%-35% of triple-negative breast cancers. Androgen receptor stimulates growth and survival in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Treatment with bicalutamide, an androgen receptor antagonist, has a good benefit for AR triple-negative breast cancer patients. AR triple-negative breast cancer cells were treated with curcumin or bicalutamide alone or in combination of both together. Cell growth, apoptosis and Wnt signaling pathways were examined. We found that curcumin dramatically suppressed Wnt signaling pathway in AR triple-negative breast cancer cells. Curcumin treatment inhibited androgen receptor protein expression in AR triple-negative breast cancer cells. Combination treatment of curcumin and bicalutamide has a robust increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, the combination treatment suppressed the growth of AR triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively than with the single drug alone. Our data indicate that androgen receptor inhibition is a potential therapeutic approach for AR triple-negative breast cancers. In summary, our study for the first time shows that the combination treatment of curcumin and bicalutamide is effective in AR triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Proinflammatory cytokine profile is critical in autocrine GH-triggered curcumin resistance engulf by atiprimod cotreatment in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Active growth hormone (GH) signaling triggers cellular growth and invasion-metastasis in colon, breast, and prostate cancer. Curcumin, an inhibitor of NF-ҡB pathway, is assumed to be a promising anti-carcinogenic agent. Atiprimod is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic agent that induces apoptotic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma, multiple myeloma, and pituitary adenoma. We aimed to demonstrate the potential additional effect of atiprimod on curcumin-induced apoptotic cell death via cytokine expression profiles in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with active GH signaling. The effect of curcumin and/or atiprimod on IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17A levels were measured by ELISA assay. MTT cell viability, trypan blue exclusion, and colony formation assays were performed to determine the effect of combined drug exposure on cell viability, growth, and colony formation, respectively. Alteration of the NF-ҡB signaling pathway protein expression profile was determined following curcumin and/or atiprimod exposure by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Finally, the effect of curcumin with/without atiprimod treatment on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation and apoptotic cell death was examined by DCFH-DA and Annexin V/PI FACS flow analysis, respectively. Autocrine GH-mediated IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 expressions were downregulated by curcumin treatment. Atiprimod co-treatment increased the inhibitory effect of curcumin on cell viability, proliferation and also increased the curcumin-triggered ROS generation in each GH⁺ breast cancer cells. Combined drug exposure increased apoptotic cell death through acting on IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17A secretion. Forced GH-triggered curcumin resistance might be overwhelmed by atiprimod and curcumin co-treatment via modulating NF-ҡB-mediated inflammatory cytokine expression in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Antitumor effects of curcumin on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human colorectal carcinoma HCT‑116 cells

Curcumin is the main component of the Chinese herbal plant turmeric, which has been demonstrated to possess antitumor and other pharmacological properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the viability, migration and apoptosis of human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, it was investigated whether the antitumor effect of curcumin on HCT-116 cells could match that of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). HCT-116 cells were treated with curcumin (10, 20 and 30 µM) and 5-FU (500 µM), and cell viability and proliferation were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays, respectively. The migration and invasion of treated cells were determined using Transwell and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl amino ester fluorescent labeling assays. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates were detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore, cell morphology changes associated with apoptosis were observed by fluorescence microscopy with acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining. To investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms, the gene and protein levels of Fas, Fas-associated via death domain (FADD), caspase-8, caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, E-cadherin and claudin-3 were detected using quantitative PCR analysis, zymography and western blotting. The results revealed that curcumin markedly inhibited the viability and proliferation of HCT-116 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The migration, aggregation and invasion of HCT-116 cells into the lungs of mice were decreased by curcumin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. S-phase arrest and gradually increased apoptotic rates of HCT-116 cells were observed with increasing curcumin concentrations. Additionally, the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-associated proteins (Fas, FADD, caspase-8 and caspase-3) and E-cadherin in HCT-116 cells were upregulated following treatment with curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, the expression of migration-associated proteins, including MMP-9, NF-κB and claudin-3, was downregulated with increasing curcumin concentrations. These data suggested that the inhibitory effect of curcumin on HCT-116 cells may match that of 5-FU. Therefore, curcumin induced cell apoptosis and inhibited tumor cell metastasis by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and its therapeutic effect may be comparable to that of 5-FU.

Medicinal Herbs Used in Traditional Management of Breast Cancer: Mechanisms of Action

Background: Breast cancer is one of the principal causes of death among women and there is a pressing need to develop novel and effective anti-cancer agents. Natural plant products have shown promising results as anti-cancer agents. Their effectiveness is reported as decreased toxicity in usage, along with safety and less recurrent resistances compared with hormonal targeting anti-cancer agents. Methods: A literature search was conducted for all English-language literature published prior to June 2020. The search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The search strategy included keywords such as breast cancer, herbs, anti-cancer biologically active components, clinical research, chemotherapy drugs amongst others. Results: The literature provides documented evidence of the chemo-preventative and chemotherapeutic properties of Ginseng, garlic (Allium sativum), Black cohosh (Actaea racemose), Tumeric (Curcuma longa), Camellia sinenis (green tea), Echinacea, Arctium (burdock), Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and Black Cumin (Nigella sativa). Conclusions: The nine herbs displayed anti-cancer properties and their outcomes and mechanisms of action include inhibition of cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis as well as modulation of key intracellular pathways. However, more clinical trials and cohort human studies should be conducted to provide key evidence of their medical benefits.

Curcumin in cancer therapy: A novel adjunct for combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and alleviation of its adverse effects

Dealing with cancer is of importance due to enhanced incidence rate of this life-threatening disorder. Chemotherapy is an ideal candidate in overcoming and eradication of cancer. To date, various chemotherapeutic agents have been applied in cancer therapy and paclitaxel (PTX) is one of them. PTX is a key member of taxane family with potential anti-tumor activity against different cancers. Notably, PTX has demonstrated excellent proficiency in elimination of cancer in clinical trials. This chemotherapeutic agent is isolated from Taxus brevifolia, and is a tricyclic diterpenoid. However, resistance of cancer cells into PTX chemotherapy has endangered its efficacy. Besides, administration of PTX is associated with a number of side effects such as neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and so on, demanding novel strategies in obviating PTX issues. Curcumin is a pharmacological compound with diverse therapeutic effects including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and so on. In the current review, we demonstrate that curcumin, a naturally occurring nutraceutical compound is able to enhance anti-tumor activity of PTX against different cancers. Besides, curcumin administration reduces adverse effects of PTX due to its excellent pharmacological activities. These topics are discussed with an emphasis on molecular pathways to provide direction for further studies in revealing other signaling networks.

Intraductal Therapy in Breast Cancer: Current Status and Future Prospective

With our improved understanding of the biological behavior of breast cancer, minimally invasive intervention is urgently needed for personalized treatment of early disease. Intraductal therapy is one such minimally invasive approach. With the help of appropriate tools, technologies using the intraductal means of entering the ducts may be used both to diagnose and treat lesions in the mammary duct system with less trauma and at the same time avoid systemic toxicity. Traditional agents such as those targeting pathways, endocrine therapy, immunotherapy, or gene therapy can be used alone or combined with other new technologies, such as nanomaterials, through the intraductal route. Additionally, relevant mammary tumor models in rodents which reflect changes in the tumor microenvironment will help deepen our understanding of their biological behavior and heterogeneity. This article reviews the current status and future prospects of intraductal therapy in breast cancer, with emphasis on ductal carcinoma in situ.

Lower concentrations of curcumin inhibit Her2-Akt pathway components in human breast cancer cells, and other dietary botanicals potentiate this and lapatinib inhibition

Her2-dependent breast cancer is treated with pharmacological drugs (eg, Herceptin, lapatinib) that target Her2 signaling. Curcumin has emerged as a potential co-treatment for this and other cancers, but prior studies have focused on non-attainable concentrations. Here we test the hypothesis that attainable in vivo levels of dietary curcumin can reduce Her2 signaling. Consistent with previous studies, higher dose curcumin (18 μmol/L) inhibits Her2-Akt pathway signaling (pHer2, total Her2 and pAkt levels) and cell growth using AU565 human breast cancer cells. We then examined lower, more physiologically relevant concentrations of curcumin, alone and in combination with other dietary botanicals (quercetin and OptiBerry fruit extract). At 4 μmol/L, curcumin reduced Her2 signaling, and even more when combined with quercetin or OptiBerry. At 1.5 μmol/L curcumin, pHer2 and Her2 (but not pAkt) were reduced, with all three pathway markers reduced more in the presence of quercetin. We also found that 1.5 μmol/L curcumin strongly potentiated lapatinib inhibition of Her2-Akt pathway signaling, and more so for pAkt, when combined with quercetin plus OptiBerry (CQO). Parallel analyses revealed cell growth inhibition at 18 and 4 μmol/L but not 1.5 μmol/L curcumin, and potentiation of 1.5 μmol/L curcumin growth arrest with other botanicals +/- lapatinib. These studies demonstrate that a physiological attainable level of curcumin (1.5 μmol/L) can reduce some components of the critical Her2-Akt pathway; that even more complete inhibition can be achieved by combination with other dietary botanicals; and that curcumin and other botanicals can potentiate the action of the Her2-cancer metastatic drug lapatinib, in turn suggesting the potential anti-cancer clinical use of these botanicals.

Efficacy and safety of curcumin in combination with paclitaxel in patients with advanced, metastatic breast cancer: A comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The clinical efficacy of curcumin has not yet been established for the treatment of cancer, despite a large body of evidence from numerous preclinical studies suggesting the therapeutic potential of curcumin, particularly in a synergistic combination with paclitaxel. The main obstacle in using curcumin for adjunctive cancer therapy is its low bioavailability via oral administration.

PURPOSE

We assessed the efficacy and safety of intravenous curcumin infusion in combination with paclitaxel in patients with metastatic and advanced breast cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative clinical study was conducted.

METHODS

A total of 150 women with advanced and metastatic breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) plus placebo or paclitaxel plus curcumin (CUC-1®, 300 mg solution, once per week) intravenously for 12 weeks with 3 months of follow-up. The primary outcome was determined based on the objective response rate (ORR), as assessed by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), time to tumor progression (TTP), time to tumor treatment failure (TTTF), safety, and quality of life.

RESULTS

The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed that the ORR of curcumin was significantly higher than that of the placebo (51% vs. 33%, p < 0.01) at 4 weeks of follow-up. The difference between the groups was even greater when only patients who had completed the treatment (61% vs. 38%, odds ratio ==2.64, p < 0.01) were included. A superior effect of curcumin vs placebo was observed in both patients who had completed the treatment and all patients included in the ITT analysis, 3 months after termination of the treatment. No other significant differences were observed between the curcumin and the placebo groups, except for fatigue (3 vs. 10 patients, respectively; odds ratio ==3.7, p = 0.05). However, the patients' self-assessed overall physical performance was significantly higher with curcumin than the placebo during the treatment and at the end of the follow-up, suggesting better tolerance in the curcumin group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, treatment with curcumin in combination with paclitaxel was superior to the paclitaxel-placebo combination with respect to ORR and physical performance after 12 weeks of treatment. Intravenously administered curcumin caused no major safety issues and no reduction in quality of life, and it may be beneficial in reducing fatigue.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This is the first clinical study to explore the efficacy and safety of administering curcumin intravenously in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer patients.

The Cytoprotective and Anti-cancer Potential of Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera

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Natural product therapy has been gaining therapeutic importance against various diseases, including cancer. The failure of chemotherapy due to its associated adverse effects promoted adjunct therapy with natural products. Phytochemicals exert anti-carcinogenic activities through the regulation of various cell signaling pathways such as cell survival, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and metastasis. The ‘small molecule-chemosensitizing agents’ from plants induce apoptosis in drug-resistant and host-immune resistant cancer cells in in vitro as well as in vivo models. For example, alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera, liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine exert the anticancer activity through enhanced ROS generation, activation of MAP kinases, followed by induction of autophagy and apoptotic cell death. Likewise, these alkaloids also exert their cytoprotective action against cerebrovascular stroke/ischemic stroke, diabetes, and chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, the present review elucidates the pharmacological activities of these bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids which include the cytoprotective, anticancer and chemosensitizing abilities against various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and cancer.

Investigating the effect of radiosensitizer for Ursolic Acid and Kamolonol Acetate ‌ on HCT-116 cell line

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was evaluating the cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects of Ursolic Acid (UA) and Kamolonol Acetate (KA) on HCT116 cell line and finally investigating the functional role of NF-κB and CCND1 genes in the radiosensitizing activity of UA and KA.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The cytotoxic effects of UA and KA by MTT assay was evaluated on HCT-116. Clonogenic assay was performed to investigate of radiosensitizing effects of UA and KA on HCT116. To assessment the expression levels of NF-κB and CCND1 genes, real-time PCR method was used.

RESULTS

The results of MTT assay revealed that UA and KA have cytotoxic effects on HCT116 cell line. According to clonogenic assay, survival fraction of treated cells with UA and KA has been decreased compared to the survival fraction of untreated cells. UA and KA lead to the decrease in the expression level of NF-κB. Synergistic effect of radiosensitizing agents with radiation was only approved for UA and 2 Gy of radiation.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study, UA and KA have cytotoxic effects on HCT116 cell line. Furthermore, UA may lead to radiosensitization of human colorectal tumor cells by NF-κB1 and CCND1signaling pathways.

CDC25A Facilitates Chemo-resistance in Ovarian Cancer Multicellular Spheroids by Promoting E-cadherin Expression and Arresting Cell Cycles

Peritoneal metastasis is the most common pathway for the spread of ovarian cancer and one of the major causes of cancer death. Ovarian cancer cells in ascites prefer to aggregate into the multicellular spheroids (MCS) with an inadequate response to chemotherapy. In this study, gene expression analysis implicated that ovarian cancer MCS had its unique expression pattern and the cell cycle-related pathways were prominently altered in MCS cells compared to the monolayer adherent cells. Flow cytometry and western blots confirmed the cell cycle stagnancy in MCS. Among the cell cycle-related proteins, we found that expression of CDC25A was upregulated in MCS and displayed a time-dependent decrease during the transition from MCS to monolayer adherent cells. Loss-of-function studies showed that CDC25A promoted cisplatin-resistance and paclitaxel-resistance and inhibited the drug-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer MCS. Mechanically, CDC25A impeded cell cycle progression in MCS cells, enhanced their structure integrity, and maintained upregulation of E-cadherin in MCS cells. Accordingly, addition of NSC95397, a small molecular inhibitor of CDC25A, sensitized the ovarian cancer MCS to chemotherapeutic agents. This provides us a novel strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis and may help improve the overall survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Apoptotic Resistance of Metastatic Tumor Cells in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Roles of Death Receptor-5

Background: Metastasis is a major cause of death from cancer in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Apoptosis evasion is a critical feature of metastatic tumor cells. Chemopreventive and apoptotic potential of curcumin has been shown in breast cancer. However, the precise mechanism of these effects against metastatic tumor cells has not been clearly addressed yet. Methods: 4T1 cell line was used for induction of metastatic animal model of breast cancer. Primary and metastatic tumor cells were extracted from subcutaneous tumor and lung of cancerous mice, respectively. MTT assay was used to determine the effect of curcumin on viability of tumor cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the effect of curcumin on death receptor-5 (DR-5) gene expression. Results: Our data revealed that, compared with primary tumor cells, metastatic tumor cells were more resistance to apoptosis effects of curcumin. The DR-5 gene expression was up-regulated in both primary and metastatic tumor cells after curcumin treatment, but this up-regulation was significantly higher in primary tumor cells compared with metastatic cells. Conclusion: These findings provided important insights regarding the molecular mechanism of apoptosis resistance of metastatic tumor cells and can be used for designing a targeted therapeutic strategies in combat with metastatic TNBC.

An LC-MS/MS Method for Synchronous Determination of Paclitaxel and Curcumin: Development, Validation, and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

Background:

A chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was first established and validated for the synchronous determination of curcumin(CUR) and paclitaxel (PTX) in this study. </P><P> Objective: An LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Paclitaxel and Curcumin.

Methods:

The analytes were extracted with methanol, and docetaxel was used as the internal standard (IS). The analytes and the IS were separated on a C18 (4.6 mm × 50 mm, 3.5 µm) column with a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid solution and methanol (80:20, v/v). The flow velocity of the mobile phase was 0.5 mL/min. And then, the method was applied to study the pharmacokinetic behavior of CUR and PTX in rats.

Results:

The calibration curves were linear within the concentration ranges of 2–1000 ng/mL for PTX and 5–500 ng/mL for CUR, the mean extraction recoveries and matrix effects of PTX, CUR, and the IS were within an acceptable range. The apparent volume of distribution of PTX was different between the group of administration of PTX and the group of co-administration with CUR and PTX.

Conclusion:

A sensitive and simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the synchronous determination of PTX and CUR in rat plasma, CUR increased the apparent volume of distribution of PTX when CUR and PTX were co-administered.

Differentially expressed gene profile and relevant pathways of the traditional Chinese medicine cinobufotalin on MCF‑7 breast cancer cells

Cinobufotalin is a chemical compound extracted from the skin of dried bufo toads that may have curative potential for certain malignancies through different mechanisms; however, these mechanisms remain unexplored in breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor mechanism of cinobufotalin in breast cancer by using microarray data and in silico analysis. The microarray data set GSE85871, in which cinobufotalin exerted influences on the MCF‑7 breast cancer cells, was acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. Subsequently, protein interaction analysis was conducted, which clarified the clinical significance of core genes, and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used to analyze cinobufotalin‑related pathways. The Connectivity Map (CMAP) database was used to select existing compounds that exhibited curative properties similar to those of cinobufotalin. A total of 1,237 DEGs were identified from breast cancer cells that were treated with cinobufotalin. Two core genes, SRC proto‑oncogene non‑receptor tyrosine kinase and cyclin‑dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, were identified as serving a vital role in the onset and development of breast cancer, and their expression levels were markedly reduced following cinobufotalin treatment as detected by the microarray of GSE85871. It also was revealed that the 'neuroactive ligand‑receptor interaction' and 'calcium signaling' pathways may be crucial for cinobufotalin to perform its functions in breast cancer. Conducting a matching search in CMAP, miconazole and cinobufotalin were indicated to possessed similar molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, cinobufotalin may serve as an effective compound for the treatment of a subtype of breast cancer that is triple positive for the presence of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor‑2 receptors, and its mechanism may be related to different pathways. In addition, cinobufotalin is likely to exert its antitumor influences in a similar way as miconazole in MCF‑7 cells.

Improving the anti-keloid outcomes through liposomes loading paclitaxel-cholesterol complexes

Background

Keloids represent benign fibroproliferative tumors which result from elevated expression of inflammation. Paclitaxel (PTX) was an effective chemotherapeutic agent and has been reported to have anti-fibrotic effects, but the strong hydrophobicity brings a challenge for its clinical application.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to improve the water solubility of PTX and investigate its anti-keloid effects.

Methods

We prepared a PTX-cholesterol-loaded liposomes (PTXL) by thin film evaporation fashion and characterized their physicochemical properties. We also investigated the effects of PTX on proliferation, invasion and fibrosis of keloid fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo.

Results

The prepared PTXL have a spherical appearance, a particle size of 101.43 nm and a zeta potential of −41.63 mV. PTXL possessed a high drug entrapment efficiency of 95.63% and exhibited a good stability within 30 days. The drugs in PTXL were released in a slow and sustained mode. The PTXL could be effectively uptaken into human keloids fibroblast (HKFs) in a time-dependent manner. In vitro, PTXL showed better ability on inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and effectively on promoting apoptosis and arresting cell cycle in G₂/M phase compared to PTX. Meanwhile, in vivo studies indicated that the PTXL had better performance on inhibiting the keloids growth compared to the PTX in keloid-bearing BALB/c nude mice model. Finally, we found PTX treatment suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor alpah (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and inhibited the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I in HKFs. The activation of protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) signaling pathway also blocked by PTX in cultured HKFs and keloid tissues. LY294002, a PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/AKT inhibitor, also suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and TGF-β, and simultaneously, reduced the production of α-SMA and collagen I in HKFs. The inhibition of AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway contribute to inhibit the generation of fibrogenic cytokines by PTXL on ameliorating fibrosis progress in keloids.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the developed PTXL would become a promising therapeutic agent in the field of anti-keloid therapy.

Adjudin synergizes with paclitaxel and inhibits cell growth and metastasis by regulating the sirtuin 3-Forkhead box O3a axis in human small-cell lung cancer

Background

Small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC), a malignant tumor, is usually widely metastatic when diagnosed. The lack of important therapeutic clinical advances makes it difficult to treat. Previous studies showed that Adjudin had anticancer effects in many other human cancers, and it was synergetic with cisplatin in non‐small cell lung cancer. However, the mechanism on SCLC was unclear.

Methods

We investigated the potential mechanism and effect of Adjudin on SCLC both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

An SCLC xenograft model showed that Adjudin inhibited tumor growth and was significantly synergetic with paclitaxel (in vitro as well). Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays, flow cytometric analysis and western blotting showed that Adjudin effectively suppressed SCLC cell proliferation by inducing S phase arrest and caspase‐dependent apoptosis. Moreover, Transwell and scratch assays showed that Adjudin also effectively inhibited migration and invasion. Furthermore, Adjudin activated the sirtuin 3 (SIRT3)–Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) pathway. Downregulating SIRT3 or FOXO3a significantly attenuated Adjudin‐induced anticancer effects. Furthermore, higher expression of SIRT3 and FOXO3a were positively correlated, and both were associated with longer survival in lung cancer patients.

Conclusion

Overall, the present study is the first to show that Adjudin synergizes with paclitaxel and inhibits cell growth and metastasis by regulating the SIRT3–FOXO3a axis in SCLC; thus, Adjudin has great potential to be an anticancer agent.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in prevention and treatment of disease

Curcumin is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound present in rhizome of Curcuma longa belonging to the family zingiberaceae. Growing experimental evidence revealed that curcumin exhibit multitarget biological implications signifying its crucial role in health and disease. The current review highlights the recent progress and mechanisms underlying the wide range of pharmacological effects of curcumin against numerous diseases like neuronal, cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, endocrine, skin, respiratory, infectious, gastrointestinal diseases and cancer. The ability of curcumin to modulate the functions of multiple signal transductions are linked with attenuation of acute and chronic diseases. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have revealed that curcumin modulates several molecules in cell signal transduction pathway including PI3K, Akt, mTOR, ERK5, AP-1, TGF-β, Wnt, β-catenin, Shh, PAK1, Rac1, STAT3, PPARγ, EBPα, NLRP3 inflammasome, p38MAPK, Nrf2, Notch-1, AMPK, TLR-4 and MyD-88. Curcumin has a potential to prevent and/or manage various diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties with an excellent safety profile. In contrast, the anti-cancer effects of curcumin are reflected due to induction of growth arrest and apoptosis in various premalignant and malignant cells. This review also carefully emphasized the pharmacokinetics of curcumin and its interaction with other drugs. Clinical studies have shown that curcumin is safe at the doses of 12 g/day but exhibits poor systemic bioavailability. The use of adjuvant like piperine, liposomal curcumin, curcumin nanoparticles and curcumin phospholipid complex has shown enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic potential. Further studies are warranted to prove the potential of curcumin against various ailments.

A review of complementary therapies with medicinal plants for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

INTRODUCTION

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a progressive, prolonged, and often irreversible side effect of many chemotherapeutic agents. The development of neuropathic pain is still poorly managed by clinically available drugs at present.

METHODS

In this mini-review, we summarized the current knowledge of pathobiology for CIPN, and selected evidence on the application of complementary therapies in experimental studies.

RESULTS

Medicinal plants are considered to be the most common complementary therapy modalities for CIPN. Therefore, we identified ten medicinal herbal extracts as well as their phytochemicals, and three herbal formulas. Multiple complementary therapies have been used and studied for decades, and their effects against CIPN are focus on anti-oxidative activity. However, there is still controversial due to the diverse manifestations of different antineoplastic agents and complex drug interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel therapies or drugs that have proven to be effective in animals require further investigation, so confirmation of their efficacy and safety will require time.

Curcumin Reverses 5-Fluorouracil Resistance by Promoting Human Colon Cancer HCT-8/5-FU Cell Apoptosis and Down-regulating Heat Shock Protein 27 and P-Glycoprotein

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential mechanisms that curcumin reverses 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) multidrug resistance (MDR).

METHODS

Cell growth and the inhibitory rate of curcumin (2-25 μg/mL) and/or 5-FU (0.05-1000 μg/mL) on human colon cancer HCT-8 and HCT-8/5-FU (5-FU-resistant cell line) were determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle after 5-FU and/or curcumin treatment were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of the multidrug resistance related factors p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and heat shock protein 27 (HSP-27) genes and proteins were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB), respectively.

RESULTS

The inhibitory rate of curcumin or 5-FU on HCT-8 and HCT-8/5-FU cells proliferation at exponential phase were in a dosedependent manner, HCT-8 cell line was more sensitive to curcumin or 5-FU when compared the inhibitory rate of HCT-8/5-FU. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of combination 5-FU and curcumin (4.0 μg/mL) in HCT-8/5-FU was calculated as 179.26 μg/mL, with reversal fold of 1.85. Another IC₅₀ of combination 5-FU and curcumin (5.5 μg/mL) in HCT-8/5-FU was calculated as 89.25 μg/mL, with reversal fold of 3.71. Synergistic effect of 5-FU and curcumin on HCT-8 and HCT-8/5-FU cells were found. The cell cycle analysis performed by FCM showed that HCT-8 and HCT-8/5-FU cells mostly accumulated at G₀/G₁ phase, which suggested a synergistic effect of curcumin and 5-FU to induce apoptosis. FCM analysis found that the percentage of apoptosis of cells treated with curcumin, 5-FU and their combination were significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the percentage of apoptosis of the combination groups were slightly higher than other groups (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of P-gp (0.28±0.02) and HSP-27 (0.28±0.09) in HCT-8/5-FU cells treated with combination drugs were lower than cells treated with 5-FU alone (P-gp, 0.48±0.07, P=0.009; HSP-27, 0.57±0.10, P=0.007). The protein levels of P-gp (0.25±0.06) and HSP-27 (0.09±0.02) in HCT-8/5-FU cells treated with combination drugs were decreased when compared to 5-FU alone (P-gp, 0.46±0.02, P=0.005; HSP-27, 0.43±0.01, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer cells. Curcumin has the ability of reversal effects on the multidrug resistance of human colon cancer cells lines HCT-8/5-FU. Down-regulation of P-gp and HSP-27 may be the mechanism of curcumin reversing the drug resistance of HCT-8/5-FU to 5-FU.

Efficient and tumor-specific knockdown of MTDH gene attenuates paclitaxel resistance of breast cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro

Background

Drug resistance of paclitaxel (TAX), the first-line chemotherapy drug for breast cancer, was reported to develop in 90% of patients with breast cancer, especially metastatic breast cancer. Investigating the mechanism of TAX resistance of breast cancer cells and developing the strategy improving its therapeutic efficiency are crucial to breast cancer cure.

Methods and Results

We here report an elegant nanoparticle (NP)-based technique that realizes efficient breast cancer treatment of TAX. Using lentiviral vector-mediated gene knockdown, we first demonstrated that TAX therapeutic efficiency was closely correlated with metadherin (MTDH) gene expression in breast cancer cell lines. This finding was also supported by efficacy of TAX treatment in breast cancer patients from our clinical studies. Specifically, TAX treatment became more effective when MTDH expression was decreased in MCF-7 cancer cells by the blocking nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Based on these findings, we subsequently synthesized a polymeric NP that could co-deliver MTDH-small interfering RNA (MTDH–siRNA) and TAX into the breast cancer tumors in tumor-bearing mice. The NPs were composed of a cationic copolymer, which wrapped TAX in the inside and adsorbed the negatively charged siRNA on their surface with high drug-loading efficiency and good stability.

Conclusions

NP-based co-delivery approach can effectively knock down the MTDH gene both in vitro and in vivo, which dramatically inhibits breast tumor growth, achieving effective TAX chemotherapy treatment without overt side effects. This study provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of a wide range of solid tumors highly expressing MTDH.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-1042-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Curcumin inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of breast cancer cells

Curcumin is a natural compound that appears to be promising for clinical application, as it has been shown in in vitro and in vivo studies to exert antitumor effects by modulating multiple signaling cellular pathways. In the present study, the antitumor effects of curcumin and its mechanism of action were investigated in cultured breast cancer cells. The MTT assay was used to determine the effect of curcumin on breast cancer cell proliferation, flow cytometry was used to detect alterations of the cell cycle, and western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of signaling molecules involved in the cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis. The results revealed that curcumin significantly inhibited the proliferation of various breast cancer cell lines, such as T47D, MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, with an IC₅₀ at the micromolar level, indicating the potent antitumor activity of curcumin. In-depth study of its mechanism of action revealed that curcumin induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and decreased the expression of the CDC25 and CDC2 proteins, while increasing the expression of P21. In addition, curcumin inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and promoted BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) and cleavage of caspase 3, subsequently inducing apoptosis of breast cancer cells. In conclusion, curcumin inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which may be associated with the decrease of CDC25 and CDC2 and increase of P21 protein levels, as well as inhibition of the phosphorylation of Akt/mTOR and induction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The findings of the present study may provide a basis for the further study of curcumin in the treatment of breast cancer.

Paclitaxel suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis through regulation of ROS and the AKT/MAPK signaling pathway in canine mammary gland tumor cells

Paclitaxel is a diterpenoid compound, derived from the pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) berry, which exhibits antineoplastic effects against various types of cancer. However, the antitumor effects and the molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel on canine CHMm cells remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor effects of paclitaxel on CHMm cells and identify relevant signal transduction pathways modulated by paclitaxel using multiple methods including MTT assay, flow cytometry, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, transmission electron microscopy, determination of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondiadehyde (MDA) and western blotting, the data indicated that paclitaxel decreased cell viability, induced G₂/M-phase cell cycle arrest, suppressed the expression of cyclin B1 and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, paclitaxel upregulated the expression of Bax and cytochrome c, but reduced expression of apoptosis regulator Bcl-2, resulting in activation of caspase-3, chromatin condensation, karyopyknosis, intracellular vacuolization, increased production of ROS and MDA, and decreased activity of SOD. However, these effects were inhibited when CHMm cells were treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Furthermore, treatment with paclitaxel inhibited the level of of phospho (p)-RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) and p-ribosomal protein S6 kinase proteins, and promoted phosphorylation of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p-90 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 proteins in CHMm cells. It was observed that paclitaxel in combination with pharmacological inhibitors of the P38 and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways (SB203580 and LY294002, respectively) exerted synergistic inhibitory effects on the proliferation of the CHMm cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that paclitaxel inhibited tumor cell proliferation by increasing intrinsic apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and activation of MAPK signaling pathway in CHMm cells.

Phytotherapy and Nutritional Supplements on Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of nonskin malignancy among women worldwide. In general, conventional cancer treatment options (i.e., surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and hormone therapy) are not completely effective. Recurrence and other pathologic situations are still an issue in breast cancer patients due to side effects, toxicity of drugs in normal cells, and aggressive behaviour of the tumours. From this point of view, breast cancer therapy and adjuvant methods represent a promising and challenging field for researchers. In the last few years, the use of some types of complementary medicines by women with a history of breast cancer has significantly increased such as phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements. Despite this, the use of such approaches in oncologic processes may be problematic and patient's health risks can arise such as interference with the efficacy of standard cancer treatment. The present review gives an overview of the most usual phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements with application in breast cancer patients as adjuvant approach. Regardless of the contradictory results of scientific evidence, we demonstrated the need to perform additional investigation, mainly well-designed clinical trials in order to establish correlations and allow for further validated outcomes concerning the efficacy, safety, and clinical evidence-based recommendation of these products.