Integrative Cancer Therapies最新文献

Solanum lycopersicum L. Moench (Tomato) is a rich source of bioactive compounds. This study investigated the anticancer potential of S. lycopersicum roots methanol extract (TMESLR) and their nanocrystals (TMESLR-NCs) against breast (MCF-7), hepatocellular (HepG2), and colon (Caco-2) cancer cell lines, for the first time. TMESLR exhibited significant cytotoxicity against all 3 cell lines, with the nanocrystals demonstrating enhanced activity, Caco-2, MCF-7, and HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values of 9.69 ± 0.6, 12.52 ± 0.58, and 14.34 ± 0.62 µg/mL, respectively. Whereas, the prepared TMESLR-NCs displayed significantly the highest cytostatic potential against Caco-2 with IC₅₀ value of 5.733 ± 0.29 µg/mL. Metabolomic profiling revealed 17 secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids. In silico analyses, including PPI network construction, GO enrichment, and KEGG pathway analysis, highlighted the involvement of apoptotic pathways, p53 signaling, and TNF signaling in the anticancer effects of TMESLR. Molecular docking studies identified chlorogenic acid and inosine as potential inhibitors of Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). Inosine (6) displayed a superior docking score of -7.86 kcal/mol, interacting with critical residues GLY154, ASP269, and HIS146. On the other hand, chlorogenic acid (12) achieved a docking score of -7.32 kcal/mol, forming stable interactions with TYR308, PHE210, and LEU276 residues. These findings suggest that TMESLR and TMESLR-NCs possess promising anticancer activity and warrant further investigation as potential therapeutic agents.

Objective: This study was conducted to elucidate the distribution characteristics of predominant unbalanced constitutions and TCM syndrome elements in patients with recurrent and metastatic gastric cancer. This study was also undertaken to analyze the potential relationship between the body constitutions of patients, syndrome elements, and biological indicators, as well as to investigate the effect of Yiqi Wenyang Jiedu prescription (YWJP) on symptoms and biological indicators before and after treatment.

Result: Yang-deficiency and Qi-deficiency were identified as prevalent imbalanced constitutions among patients with recurrent and metastatic gastric cancer. The primary syndrome factors associated with disease localization included the spleen-stomach and liver, with the main syndrome elements being Qi-deficiency, Yang-deficiency, and Qi-stagnation. Patients with Qi-deficiency and Yang-deficiency constitutions exhibited lower BMI and higher monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR). A notable positive correlation was observed between cold (Yang-deficiency) and BMI, as well as between Qi-deficiency constitution and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Furthermore, YWJP demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms associated with Qi-deficiency and Yang-deficiency in patients with recurrent and metastatic gastric cancer, including dyspnea, fatigue, diaphoresis, cold intolerance, abdominal sounds, postural changes, and abdominal distension.

Discussion: Yang-deficiency and Qi-deficiency emerged as prevalent constitutional patterns in patients with recurrent and metastatic gastric cancer. Notably, BMI, MLR, and NLR may serve as physiological indicators of these conditions. Furthermore, YWJP treatment demonstrated potential efficacy in alleviating symptoms associated with Qi-deficiency and Yang-deficiency in this patient population.

Clinical trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2200055826.

Purpose: HNC poses significant health challenges globally with over 650 000 new cases annually. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise for many cancer types, with several exploring the effects of exercise on various molecular biomarkers. However, no study has systematically explored these effects among HNC survivors.

Methods: Studies published up to February 2024 were screened on PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science using relevant keywords yielding 838 results. Studies that explored the effect of exercise-based interventions on molecular biomarkers among HNC survivors were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool.

Results: Three studies were included in the review. Primary biomarkers assessed were inflammatory (eg, IL-6, TNF-α), oxidative stress (eg, 8-OHdG, MDA), and collagen fragment markers (eg, IC6, ProC3). Significant changes were observed in collagen fragment markers, specifically Pro C3, IC6 and IC6/C6M over time, although no correlation with lean body mass was found. Oxidative stress markers improved following exercise, with increases in total antioxidant capacity, decreases in 8-OHdG and carbonyl content. However, no significant changes were found in inflammatory markers or DNA methylation patterns post-intervention.

Conclusion: Our review suggests that exercise shows potential in modulating physiological and molecular pathways' among HNC survivors. Although only 3 studies were eligible for inclusion, these benefits might potentially translate into improvements in health-related outcomes amongst HNC survivors. Future large-scale trials with standardized exercise protocols and extended follow-up periods might improve our understanding of the long-term effects of exercise on biomarkers and survivorship outcomes in HNC.PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42024508084.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is a common problem in patients undergoing chemotherapy, influencing quality of life (QoL) and daily activities. This study will investigate whether therapists' positive communication may strengthen positive treatment expectations and induce antiemetic effects during antiemetic treatment using standard care, sham acupuncture, or verum acupuncture, compared to neutral communication. It will also investigate whether a variety of patient, therapist and treatment components modify the treatment outcomes.

Methods: This is a trial protocol for a randomized, sham-controlled, patient- and evaluator-blinded clinical trial. Patients (n = 198 patients according to a sample size calculation) with breast, colorectal, or bladder cancer undergoing neo-/adjuvant moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy are being randomized in 2 × 3 factorial design to the following conditions: 1. neutral or 2. positive communication style regarding expected treatment effects, during the antiemetic treatment types: A) standard care only (including antiemetics, no acupuncture), or, in addition to standard care, B) sham acupuncture with telescopic non-penetrating needles, or C) verum, penetrating acupuncture. The 2 communication styles 1 and 2 are carried out during the antiemetic treatments given by an intervention therapist immediately pre and post (20 minutes × 2) an intravenous chemotherapy session. Data are being collected at baseline on the day before the chemotherapy session, daily for 10 days, at a 10-day follow-up, and at a follow-up after completing the entire chemotherapy period, lasting about 6 months. Primary outcome is mean score Visual Analog Scale nausea grading for the first 5 days of the chemotherapy session period. Secondary outcomes are for example, vomiting, treatment expectations, QoL, daily and physical activity, and physiological measures. Treatment effect modifiers will be analyzed, for example, blinding success, treatment expectations, and previous nausea experiences.

Conclusions: This trial will expand integrative cancer care's understanding of the effects of communication for strengthening treatment expectations and thus alleviating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. If proven effective, the communication model of strengthening positive treatment expectations in patients with risk for nausea and vomiting can be implemented in routine clinical care as part of side-effect management for patients with cancer.

Trial registration: US National Institutes of Health, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03232541?term=NCT03232541&rank=1), # NCT03232541.

This study investigated the effects of peach gum polysaccharide (PGP) on chemotherapy-induced intestinal injury and behavioral changes in mice. Female C57BL/6 mice were injected with E0771 breast cancer cells and divided into 3 groups: control, chemotherapy (pirarubicin), and PGP treatment (pirarubicin plus PGP). Behavioral tests, colon length measurement, tissue staining, 16S rDNA sequencing, and metabolomics were performed. Transcriptomic data of colon and hippocampal tissues were analyzed and validated by Western blotting. PGP significantly alleviated colon damage, reduced inflammation and apoptosis, and restored colon length. It mitigated depressive behaviors by suppressing inflammasome activation in the hippocampus, increased gut microbiota diversity, and improved depression-associated metabolites. After the depletion of the intestinal flora, the antidepressant effect of PGP is significantly weakened. These findings suggest that PGP protects against chemotherapy-induced intestinal and behavioral damage by modulating the gut microbiota and gut-brain axis.

Introduction: Cancer treatment with chemotherapy frequently leads to side effects such as fatigue, pain, nausea, and anxiety. Healing Touch is a non-invasive complementary therapy often used by cancer patients to address side effects of treatment. To better inform the use of complementary therapies, there is a need to understand the biological mechanisms underlying the effects of such treatments.

Methods: This study included 44 patients with cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiation randomized into a Healing Touch (HT), a relaxation training (RT) and a usual care (UC) group. An exploratory metabolomics analysis was conducted on plasma samples taken at baseline, 4, and 6 weeks of ongoing treatment (4 sessions per week).

Results: A multivariate data analysis revealed no significant separation in metabolites between the 3 groups. Univariate data analysis revealed changes in metabolites between baseline and week 6 within each group. The main findings were lower levels of acylcarnitines, bile acids and proline in the HT group, higher levels of fatty acids in the HT and RT groups, and lower levels of kynurenine and quinolate in the UC group. The network of correlations between metabolites shows clear differences in correlations between steroids, fatty acids, sphyngomyelins, amino acids, and γ glutamyl peptides between the 3 groups, suggesting a more flexible and resilient metabolism in the HT and RT groups compared with UC.

Conclusion: This first exploratory study investigating metabolic effects of Healing Touch in cancer patients indicated suggestive differences in metabolic signatures which need further investigation in a larger study.

Background: Radiation therapy is commonly used for the curative or palliative treatment of lung, esophageal, breast, or mediastinal tumors, with radiation-induced esophagitis (RIE) being a prevalent adverse event. Despite its high incidence, no cure has been identified for RIE, and validated treatment methods remain elusive. This systematic review explores global clinical research on herbal medicines for RIE treatment, assessing their efficacy in prevention and treatment.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search across 5 databases targeted randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). RCTs published before June 2024 were eligible if they investigated herbal medicine use for RIE prevention or treatment. Using Cochrane methodology and RevMan 5.4 software, a meta-analysis was conducted, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated with the GRADE system.

Results: Following the literature selection process, 81 RCTs with 7283 patients were included in the analysis. All studies administered herbal medicine to the treatment group and usual care with conventional medicine to the control group. Meta-analysis revealed that, in terms of overall incidence rate, herbal medicine demonstrated a significantly greater preventive effect compared to usual care (relative risk [RR]: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.65-0.78). Similarly, herbal medicine showed superior efficacy in improving RIE treatment outcomes compared to usual care (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.21-1.38). Herbal medicine exhibited a comparable safety profile with fewer gastrointestinal adverse events and no significant liver toxicity.

Conclusions: Herbal medicine demonstrated significant benefits in reducing RIE incidence, delaying onset, alleviating symptoms, and shortening duration in patients undergoing radiation therapy for thoracic malignancies. However, due to limited certainty of the evidence, well-designed, large-scale RCTs are essential to establish the clinical effectiveness of herbal medicine for prevention and treatment, ensuring high-quality evidence for incidence rate and treatment effective rates.