Integrative Cancer Therapies最新文献

Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the third-most prevalent cancer in humans worldwide. The current study's objective is to search for the potentiality of Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl (W. robusta) leaf extract in a nanoemulsion (NE) form in enhancing radiotherapy against HCC induced in rats using diethylnitrosamine (DEN).

Material and methods: The metabolic composition of the bioactive extract of W. robusta leaves was investigated by LC-MS. Oral epithelial (OEC) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines were used to examine the safety and anticancer activity of the NE, respectively. In the in vivo study, HCC was induced in male albino rats through administration of DEN in drinking water for 8 weeks, then treatment with NE (100 mg/kg) until the experiment's ending. Rats were irradiated by a fractionated dose of 2Gy*4.

Results: NE exerted remarkable cytotoxicity in comparison to the parent extract and the standard doxorubicin on the HepG2 cell line. Besides, the NE administration and/or γ-irradiation (IRR) significantly reduced the elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins, and albumin levels in HCC-induced rats. Likewise, the tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were considerably reduced in HCC rats. In addition, NE treatment before IRR significantly decreased the expression of the poly ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP1) enzyme and Ki67. Furthermore, the histological investigations strongly confirmed the combined effect of NE and IRR in fighting DEN-induced HCC.

Conclusion: NE of W. robusta extract may possess a radiosensitizing novel impact and provide a new strategy to combat HCC in clinical practices.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Many researchers have previously reported that natural compounds from plants or Chinese Traditional Herbs have a potential to treat NSCLC. But it has not been reported that phytol can treat NSCLC. In this research, we first exposed this effect on A549 cells and researched the mechanism.

Methods: In order to evaluate whether phytol has a role in human NSCLC, a human non-tumoral bronchial epithelial cell line (NL20), adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cell line, and NCI-H69 SCLC (H69) cell line were used for related experiments. After determining that phytol had no toxicity to NL20 cells, A549 cells, or H69 cells, the inhibitory effect of phytol on cancer cell related characteristics of cells were determined by luciferase assay, QRT-PCR, proliferation, invasion, and would healing cellular response experiments. Additionally, the quantification of apoptotic cells has been achieved through flow cytometry. Then, bioinformatics was used to establish a database to screen and speculate on phytol's corresponding targets in lung cancer. Finally, immunoblotting experiments were used to determine the specific pathways affected by phytol.

Results: Treatment with phytol at concentrations ranging from 0 to 80 µM for 24 hours was not cytotoxic to the A549 cells and H69 cells. Phytol inhibited AP-1-mediated and NF-κB-mediated luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells, but not H69 cells. Additionally, phytol significantly inhibited the levels of MMP9, IL-6, VEGFA, IL-8, and NFKBIA in A549 cells, but had no significant effects on H69 cells. Phytol induced significant dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects on A549 cells. A significant decrease in colony formation and migration was observed. Bioinformatic and immunoblotting analysis indicated that phytol inhibited proliferation and migration of A549 cells through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Conclusions: Phytol exhibits anticancer activity by inhibiting PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and may be applicable in the clinical prevention and treatment of lung cancer in the future.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. Yangzheng-Xiaoji capsules (YXC) have been widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of HCC in China; however, the composition of compounds in YXC and its underlying anti-tumor mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to analyze the composition of YXC. An MHCC97H orthotopic mouse model of HCC was used to assess the therapeutic efficacy of YXC and its impact on the p53-induced apoptotic pathway and the PI3K/Akt pathway. YXC-mediated serum was prepared, and its optimal intervention concentration was determined using the MTT assay. The effects of YXC-mediated serum on apoptosis in MHCC97H cells, as well as on the p53-induced apoptotic pathway and the PI3K/Akt pathway, were investigated and verified through the TUNEL assay.

Results: HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified 58 components in YXC. In vivo, YXC significantly improved body weight, dietary status, survival rate, and tissue pathology, inhibited xenografts growth, promoted apoptosis of HCC cells, activated the p53-induced apoptotic pathway, and inhibited the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway with good safety. In vitro, YXC-mediated serum showed similar efficacy. When 20% YXC-mediated serum was added to MHCC97H cells, the increased apoptosis was significantly rescued by the addition of p53 inhibitor (PFT-α) or PI3K activator (740Y-P).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that YXC exhibits anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic pharmacological activity via activating the p53-induced apoptotic pathway and suppressing the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is the most common complication in patients. Astragalus membranaceus is widely used in many countries to treat cancer, but its efficacy and safety is uncertain. Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the evidence on Astragalus membranaceus on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in patients with cancer. Methods: Nine electronic databases were explored for the clinical randomized controlled trial of intervention with Astragalus membranaceus alone for cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in cancer patients from inception to July 1, 2022. The risk of bias assessment tool was adopted by Cochrane Handbook 6.1.0. The effect size was estimated using relative risk and mean difference with a corresponding 95% confidence interval. Review Manager 5.4 was used for meta-analysis. The evidence level was assessed using Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: Eight studies were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the addition of Astragalus membranaceus to the control group was effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue (SMD = -1.63, 95% CI [-1.90, -1.36], P < .00001) and (RR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.19, 2.02], P = 0.001) in patients with cancer and improving quality of life (SMD = 0.86, 95% CI [0.17, 1.55], P = 0.01) and (RR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.10, 2.23], P = 0.01). Conclusion: The current evidence is supportive of the efficacy of Astragalus membranaceus in patients with cancer-related fatigue and their quality of life, but due to the small and low quality of the included literature and the lack of uniformity in terms of cancer type as well as treatment modalities, there is currently insufficient evidence to provide strong support for the clinical use of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue. More high-quality evidence is needed in the future to further validate the use of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of clinical cancer-related fatigue. Registration: A review protocol was developed and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Registration number: CRD42023442277. Registered 20 July 2023.

Rationale: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer that typically affects women ages 20 to 50, presenting as an asymptomatic neck mass. Treatment with total or partial thyroidectomy shows an excellent prognosis. However, investigation of non-invasive therapeutic options with minimal adverse effects is ongoing. This study seeks to investigate the K1 cell line, which consists of PTC cells obtained from metastatic tumors of well-differentiated PTC.

Objective: Our investigation focuses on a cannabinoid-based product (named BRF1-A) and its potential anti-cancer effects through modulation of gene expression. We investigated its effects on gene expression of p53, c-Myc, and BCL-2 in K1 papillary thyroid cancer cells.

Methods: BRF1A was co-cultured with K1 cell line (1 × 10⁶ cells/ml) and incubated at 37°C under 5% CO₂ for 24 and 48 hours. After the culture time points, the cells were harvested, and cell viability was determined via trypan blue exclusion assay. Using qRT-PCR, we determined the effect on the gene expression of TP53, c-Myc, and BCL-2.

Results: Results show that the BRF1A decreased the viability of K1 PTC cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Within 24 hours, the cannabinoid- containing product increased the gene expression of TP53 and decreased the gene expression of BCL-2 and c-Myc in K1 PTC cells.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the cannabinoid-containing product BRF1A interacts as a potential regulator in well-differentiated thyroid cancer with the upregulation of p53 and downregulation of BLC-2 and c-Myc. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to understand the exact mechanism and therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid-containing products in papillary thyroid cancer.

Introduction: Balance problems arising from cancer and its treatments can significantly impact daily functionality and quality of life. Improving balance as part of a cancer treatment plan could result in better patient outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether an integrative therapeutic yoga intervention can improve balance in a heterogenous population of cancer survivors (CS).

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from a 16-week feasibility study where therapeutic yoga was supplemented with psychosocial support to maximize health-related quality of life in adult CS of any stage and site. In this study, we investigated balance, as it has been shown to be an important outcome in CS due to its role in physical function and quality of life. The intervention included therapeutic yoga three times per week for 16 weeks and daily psychosocial support provided via text message. Participants' balance was assessed while standing on a pressure mat with feet together, eyes opened and closed, for 30 seconds in each condition. Data on the "sway path distance" (displacement of the center of gravity) in the two conditions were obtained. Changes in balance after the intervention (from baseline to follow-up) were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Changes in balance were also assessed using responder analysis. We described the proportion of participants that improved their balance or not based on 10% difference from baseline scores.

Results: Of the 29 participants included, 22 (76%) completed post-assessments. Changes in both balance assessment conditions were not statistically significant (eyes opened: 80.06 ± 374.99, p = .702; eyes closed: -1.82 ± 24.01, p = .068). Responder analysis showed that 8 participants improved their balance with eyes opened, while 8 worsened, and 6 did not change. Analysis of balance with eyes closed showed that 5 improved, 8 worsened, and 9 did not change.

Conclusion: This secondary analysis of data from a heterogenous cohort of adult CS did not support our hypothesis at the group level. However, at the individual level, responder analysis indicated improved balance in some survivors. Future research is needed to determine factors related to the cancer experience which might mediate balance outcomes to inform better integrative interventions.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the main cause of death because of malignant tumors in women, worldwide. The impact of Crocus sativus on several cancers has been discussed. Recent studies provide evidence regarding the anticancer properties of C. sativus and its bioactive constituents against breast cancer. This study aims to systematically review the efficacy of this botanical drug and its constituents on breast cancer, and their mechanism of action for the first time. Due to the lack of human studies in this field, the present research focused on preclinical studies.

Methods: In this systematic review, scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Scientific Information Database were explored profoundly. Preclinical studies published until the end of 2024 that had investigated the therapeutic properties of C. sativus, or its bioactive constituents including crocin, crocetin, safranal, or picrocrocin against breast cancer were selected.

Results: Forty-four studies examining the effect of C. sativus or its bioactive constituents against breast cancer were obtained. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the potential and targeted anticancer properties of the metabolites found in saffron (C. sativus). These metabolites, such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal, exhibit their anticancer effects through various mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, modulation of the cell cycle, and other pathways.

Conclusions: C. sativus and its constituents exerts their anticancer activity with different mechanisms. A considerable number of the included studies highlight induction of apoptosis and modulation of the cell cycle. The findings of our study suggest that certain compounds, particularly crocin and crocetin, have significant anticancer properties. In particular, crocin provided the highest level of evidence of efficacy in preclinical research, indicating its potential for further investigation.

Introduction: Most patients with pancreatic cancer experience systemic recurrence within 1 to 2 years after radical pancreatectomy. Phellinus linteus (PL) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, suggesting potential as an adjunct to cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term oncological impact of perioperative PL in resected pancreatic cancer.

Method: This retrospective cohort study included 407 patients who underwent curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer at Severance Hospital (2012-2022). Among them, 103 patients who began PL postoperatively and continued throughout treatment were assigned to the PL group; 304 patients without PL intake comprised the control group.

Results: The mean overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the PL group (47.0 months; 95% CI: 42.8-51.1) than in the control group (35.0 months; 95% CI: 30.3-39.7; P < .001). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) showed a borderline improvement (P = .053). PL use was marginally associated with improved OS in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.614; 95% CI: 0.376-1.002; P = .051). Subgroup analysis showed no significant OS or RFS benefit with PL in patients receiving FOLFIRINOX. However, among patients treated with non-FOLFIRINOX regimens, PL use led to significantly better OS (43.9 months vs 35.0 months; P = .021), though RFS remained similar. Notably, the OS of the non-FOLFIRINOX + PL group was comparable to that of the FOLFIRINOX group (P = .332) and superior to the non-FOLFIRINOX control group (P = .021).

Conclusion: PL may enhance survival in resected pancreatic cancer, particularly in patients receiving non-FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, supporting its role as a potential adjunct when FOLFIRINOX is not feasible.