Huaier aqueous extract inhibits proliferation and metastasis of tuberous sclerosis complex cell models through downregulation of JAK2/STAT3 and MAPK signaling pathways

Chinese dragon's blood ethyl acetate extract suppresses gastric cancer progression through induction of apoptosis and autophagy mediated by activation of MAPK and downregulation of the mTOR-Beclin1 signalling cascade

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Chinese dragon's blood is a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen. However, the antigastric cancer effect of Chinese dragon's blood has not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that Chinese dragon's blood ethyl acetate extract (CDBEE) suppressed the proliferative and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. CDBEE suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition in MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. Moreover, CDBEE induced apoptotic and autophagic cell death in MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. The cytotoxicity of CDBEE in human gastric epithelial GES-1 cells was dramatically weaker than that in human gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway was involved in the growth inhibition of MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells by CDBEE. Additionally, CDBEE-induced autophagic cell death was mediated by downregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-Beclin1 signalling cascade and upregulation of the ATG3/ATG7-LC3 signalling cascade. Importantly, CDBEE exhibited potent anti-GC efficacy in vivo without obvious toxicity or side effects. Therefore, CDBEE may be a promising candidate drug for the treatment of gastric cancer, especially for GC patients with aberrant MAPK signalling or mTOR signalling.

The treatment effects of Trametes Robiniophila Murr against colorectal cancer: A mini-review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a worldwide disease threatening people's lives. Surgery and chemotherapy are still the main methods for CRC treatment. However, the side effects and chemotherapeutic drug resistance restrict the application of chemotherapy. Trametes Robiniophila Murr, also known as Huaier, is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for more than 1,600 years. Huaier extracts have promising anti-cancer effects on hepatoma, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. Nowadays, the tumor inhibition of Huaier on CRC has attracted more and more attention. This review mainly provides the possible anti-tumor mechanisms of Huaier for CRC treatment in apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of tumor cells, preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), weakening proliferation and differentiation of CRC stem cells, decreasing the vessel density in tumor tissues, and enhancing the immune system and chemotherapeutic efficacy. Huaier extract may be a good candidate for CRC treatment, especially when combined with other chemotherapeutic agents.

HuaChanSu suppresses tumor growth and interferes with glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by restraining Hexokinase-2

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the sixth highly diagnosed cancer and the fourth main reason of cancer deaths worldwide. HuaChanSu, an extract from dried toad skin, exhibits good anticancer effects and has been widely used in the treatment of liver cancer. The reprogramming of glucose metabolism is one remarkable feature of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the effects of HuaChanSu on the abnormal glucose metabolism of cancer cells have not been elucidated. In our study, we investigate the effects of HuaChanSu on glucose metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor growth in vivo. The results show that HuaChanSu inhibits the tumor growth of hepatoma H22-bearing mice and prolongs the survival time of tumor-bearing mice, additionally, HuaChanSu has no obvious adverse effects in these mice. In vitro, HuaChanSu restrains the proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of human hepatoma cells. HuaChanSu also promotes ROS production and causes mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, HuaChanSu inhibits glucose uptake and lactate release in human hepatoma cells. Mechanistically, we find that HuaChanSu downregulates Hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, and using RNA interference, we confirm that HuaChanSu suppresses the growth of HepG2 cells by interfering with glucose metabolism through downregulation of Hexokinase-2. However, knockdown of Hexokinase-2 has no obvious effect on the proliferation of SK-HEP-1 cells, although glucose uptake and lactate release are reduced in siHK2-transfected SK-HEP-1 cells, subsequently, we illustrate that two human hepatoma cell lines exhibit glucose metabolism heterogeneity, which causes the different cell proliferation responses to the inhibition of Hexokinase-2. Taken together, our study indicates that HuaChanSu could inhibit tumor growth and interfere with glucose metabolism via suppression of Hexokinase-2, and these findings provide a new insight into the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of HuaChanSu and lay a theoretical foundation for the further clinical application of HuaChanSu.

Inhibition or Reversal of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer: Pharmacological Approaches

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) constitutes one of the hallmarks of carcinogenesis consisting in the re-differentiation of the epithelial cells into mesenchymal ones changing the cellular phenotype into a malignant one. EMT has been shown to play a role in the malignant transformation and while occurring in the tumor microenvironment, it significantly affects the aggressiveness of gastric cancer, among others. Importantly, after EMT occurs, gastric cancer patients are more susceptible to the induction of resistance to various therapeutic agents, worsening the clinical outcome of patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to search for the newest pharmacological agents targeting EMT to prevent further progression of gastric carcinogenesis and potential metastases. Therapies targeted at EMT might be combined with other currently available treatment modalities, which seems to be an effective strategy to treat gastric cancer patients. In this review, we have summarized recent advances in gastric cancer treatment in terms of targeting EMT specifically, such as the administration of polyphenols, resveratrol, tangeretin, luteolin, genistein, proton pump inhibitors, terpenes, other plant extracts, or inorganic compounds.

Research Progress on the Anti-Cancer Molecular Mechanisms of Huaier

Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr), a Chinese traditional herb of medicine, has demonstrated promising curative effects in clinical treatment for various tumors. There are documented experiments showing the biological functions of Huaier with its antineoplastic molecular mechanisms: restraining proliferation and metastasis, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, pyrosis, and autophagy, anti-intratumoral angiogenesis, attenuating characteristics of tumor stem-like cells, interfering with the function of the tumor-related immune system, reversing drug resistance, and enhancing the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, etc. In addition, studies suggest that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) acts a pivotal part in cancer occurrence and development, and demonstrates that Huaier adjusts the performance of certain lncRNA (long non-coding RNA) and proceeds to affect the microRNA and its target genes, rendering an anti-tumor effect. Huaier also modulates the expression of lncRNA to attenuate the activity of ncRNA-sponged microRNA and then inhibits the expression of downstream target genes. We summarize and illustrate the experimentally confirmed anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Huaier, to inspire new ideas for researchers in relevant fields.

Upregulated CBX8 Promotes Cancer Metastasis via the WNK2/MMP2 Pathway

Metastasis is associated with poor prognosis in cancer and is a multistep process that includes invasion and migration. Several epigenetic factors are involved in this process, including chromobox protein homolog 8 (CBX8). Here, we show that CBX8 is overexpressed in many cancers compared with normal tissues. Functional analyses indicated that CBX8 promoted invasion and migration in glioblastoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. WNK2 was identified as a target gene of CBX8, which interacted with the WNK2 promoter to suppress WNK2 expression and activity. WNK2 acted as an antioncogene, and decreased WNK2 levels resulted in high activity of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and RAC1, which play a central role in invasion and migration, respectively. There was a positive relationship between MMP2 and RAC1 activity in CBX8-modulated cell lines. In addition, WNK2 negatively regulated MMP2 and RAC1 activity. Collectively, the results indicated that CBX8 promoted invasion and migration by targeting WNK2, which resulted in increased RAC1 and MMP2 expression and activity. Therefore, CBX8 may be a novel therapeutic target to treat metastatic cancers.

Effects of Huaier Extract on Ameliorating Colitis-Associated Colorectal Tumorigenesis in Mice

Background

Huaier extract has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for roughly 1600 years and may serve as a potential anti-cancer drug as it is associated with good efficacy and low toxicity. Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at a higher chance of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and as Huaier extract may potentially influence tumorigenesis, we set out to determine the effect of Huaier extract on colitis-associated CRC.

Methods

The CRC mouse model, established through azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), was administered Huaier extract. Weight loss, colon length, tumor number and tumor size were evaluated macroscopically. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and STAT3 phosphorylation were assessed in the colon using ELISA, Western blot and/or immunohistochemistry.

Results

Huaier extract improved the severity of colitis-associated tumorigenesis compared with control group, with attenuated weight loss and longer colons. Tumor number, size and load were drastically decreased in mice treated with Huaier. Histological assessment suggested that Huaier could decrease histological injury of the colon tissue. Additionally, Huaier extract treatment led to reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-1β) and a decrease of STAT3 phosphorylation in colon tissue. Additionally, present findings demonstrated that Huaier extract inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in CRC cells HCT116 and HCT8. The migration and invasion of CRC cells were markedly inhibited upon exposure to Huaier treatment. The apoptosis-associated protein levels (P53, Bax, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3 and cleavage caspase-3) showed significant differences after the administration of Huaier extract in HCT116 and HCT8 cells. In vivo, the administration of Huaier extract to mice inhibited tumor growth and yielded a similar profile of apoptotic proteins expression p53, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 while no significant differences in Bax were observed. Moreover, the ratio of TUNEL-positive/apoptotic cells was markedly increased in the Huaier-treated mice.

Conclusion

Huaier extract may reduce the IBD-associated tumor development by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and STAT3 stimulation.

Chinese Dragon's Blood EtOAc Extract Inhibits Liver Cancer Growth Through Downregulation of Smad3

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies, which ranks the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The screening of anti-HCC drug with high efficiency and low toxicity from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted more and more attention. As a TCM, Chinese dragon’s blood has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular illness, gynecological illness, skin disorder, otorhinolaryngological illness, and diabetes mellitus complications for many years. However, the anti-tumor effect and underlying mechanisms of Chinese dragon’s blood remain ill-defined. Herein we have revealed that Chinese dragon’s blood EtOAc extract (CDBEE) obviously suppressed the growth of human hepatoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Moreover, CDBEE inhibited the migration and invasion of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Additionally, CDBEE displayed good in vitro anti-angiogenic activity. Importantly, CDBEE treatment significantly blunted the oncogenic capability of HepG2 cells in nude mice. Mechanistically, CDBEE inhibited Smad3 expression in human hepatoma cells and tumor tissues from nude mice. Using RNA interference, we demonstrated that CDBEE exerted anti-hepatoma activity partially through down-regulation of Smad3, one of major members in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Therefore, CDBEE may be a promising candidate drug for HCC treatment, especially for liver cancer with aberrant TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Huaier extract restrains pancreatic cancer by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease, and new treatments need to be explored. Huaier extract is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been found to exert antitumor properties in some cancers. However, the role of Huaier extract in pancreatic cancer has not been examined. In this study, we found that the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) of pancreatic cancer cells were suppressed by treatment with Huaier extract and that apoptosis increased. We also observed that expression of β-catenin was inhibited by Huaier extract. Furthermore, an animal study showed that Huaier extract slowed tumor growth in pancreatic cancer. Our results reveal that Huaier extract suppresses pancreatic cancer by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway both in vitro and in vivo.

Huaier Suppresses Breast Cancer Progression via linc00339/miR-4656/CSNK2B Signaling Pathway

Huaier, as known as Trametes robiniophila Murr, is a traditional Chinese medicine. Various studies have demonstrated that Huaier could inhibit cancer progression and improve the prognosis of patients. In the present study, we comprehensively screened the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in Huaier-treated breast cancer cells. Using bioinformatic analysis, hub genes were identified and functionally annotated. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was applied to construct the molecular network influenced by Huaier. Linc00339 was then found to play a critical role in Huaier-mediated cancer suppression. To validate the effects of linc00339 and identify the downstream targets, we performed in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, we identified that Huaier could inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells through modulating linc00339/miR-4656/CSNK2B signaling pathway.

Trametes robiniophila Murr: a traditional Chinese medicine with potent anti-tumor effects

Trametes robiniophila Murr also known as Huaier, one of the traditional Chinese medicines, has been shown an effective adjuvant of cancer therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that the anti-cancer effects of Huaier can be briefly divided into two aspects: the direct effects on tumor cells and the indirect effects on immune cells. In vitro and in vivo experiment showed Huaier directly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, induced tumor cell death, prevented metastasis and interfered with angiogenesis via various signaling pathways. The immunomodulatory effect of Huaier is associated with enhancement of the number and function of CD4⁺ T cells and NK cells, regulation of the polarization and function of macrophages, and elevated secretion of immune stimulatory cytokines. In this review, the anti-cancer effects and combined treatments of Huaier with other anti-cancer therapies, and the underlying mechanisms are summarized and discussed.

Efficacy of Huaier granule in patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Huaier extract has been demonstrated to exhibit potent anti-tumor effects in various types of cancer cells. However, the clinical benefit of Huaier granule in breast cancer has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Huaier granule in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

Our study included 284 breast cancer patients treated with or without Huaier granule between January 2005 and October 2016 at Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China. Retrospective data obtained included demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), serum concentrations of tumor markers, the Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), and incidences of emotional symptoms. DFS was the main outcome measure.

RESULTS

Of the patients included, 144 were classified into the control group and 140 into the Huaier group. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the study arms. Median DFS was 91.43 months for control group and 112.61 months for Huaier group (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57-5.61, p < 0.01). After Huaier granule treatment, the serum levels of tumor markers could be reduced to the normal range. In addition, breast cancer patients with Huaier granule treatment had higher KPS scores and less emotional symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that patients orally administrated Huaier granule got longer DFS. Furthermore, Huaier granule could reduce serum tumor markers, improve the functional status, and decrease the incidences of emotional symptoms in breast cancer patients. Therefore, Huaier granule was an effective therapy for women with breast cancer.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Study on the Curative Effect of Huaier on Mild-to-Moderate Psoriasis and an Experimental Study on the Proliferation of Hacat Cells

The antitumor effects of Huaier have been recently revealed. However, no research has been conducted on the effects of Huaier on keratinocyte proliferation and for the treatment of psoriasis. Hacat cells were treated with different concentrations of Huaier for different periods of times. The effects on cell proliferation and vitality and on the cell cycle were detected. Patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis were randomized and divided into two groups in a double-blind manner. The experimental group was given sugar-free Yinxie granules and Huaiqihuang (HQH) granules, and the control group was given sugar-free Yinxie granules and placebo. After 4 weeks, various therapeutic indexes were compared. Huaier significantly inhibited Hacat cell proliferation, suppressed vitality, and blocked the cell cycle in the G1 phase compared with the control group (P < 0.01, respectively). After treatment for 4 weeks, the number of patients between the two groups that experienced a 50% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 50), PASI 75 and PASI 90, was significantly different (P <0.01). The body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis and static physician's global assessment (sPGA) was significantly reduced (P < 0.01); additionally, a significant improvement in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (P < 0.01) was observed. Huaier has shown promising effects in both clinical and experimental setting in this preliminary study and it might provide some benefit in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in the future.

SPARCL1 suppresses cell migration and invasion in renal cell carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that the human SPARC‑like 1 (SPARCL1) is crucial for human cancer migration and invasion. In the present study, the expression, biological function and possible molecular regulatory mechanisms of SPARCL1 were investigated in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The protein expression of SPARCL1 in cells was evaluated using western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining in the tissue microarray. The effects of SPARCL1 on the biological behaviors of RCC cells were assessed using in vitro assays. The present study also provisionally investigated the role of SPARCL1 on the mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The results revealed that the expression of SPARCL1 was decreased in the RCC cell lines examined and in the tissue microarray. The overexpression of SPARCL1 significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion, and this may have been due to the inactivation of p38/c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK)/extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) MAPKs. The results showed that high expression levels of SPARCL1 offered potential as a useful prognostic factor in RCC. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the expression of SPARCL1 was downregulated in RCC cells and tissues, however, the overexpression of SPARCL1 inhibited RCC cell migration and invasion. SPARCL1 also reduced the expression of phosphorylated p38/JNK/ERK MAPKs. These data suggested that increasing the protein expression level of SPARCL1 may be novel strategy for treating RCC.