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Pharmacological Research Apr 2024Cancer cells frequently develop resistance to chemotherapeutic therapies and targeted drugs, which has been a significant challenge in cancer management. With the... (Review)
Review
Cancer cells frequently develop resistance to chemotherapeutic therapies and targeted drugs, which has been a significant challenge in cancer management. With the growing advances in technologies in isolation and identification of natural products, the potential of natural products in combating cancer multidrug resistance has received substantial attention. Importantly, natural products can impact multiple targets, which can be valuable in overcoming drug resistance from different perspectives. In the current review, we will describe the well-established mechanisms underlying multidrug resistance, and introduce natural products that could target these multidrug resistant mechanisms. Specifically, we will discuss natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, chrysin and more, and their potential roles in combating multidrug resistance. This review article aims to provide a systematic summary of recent advances of natural products in combating cancer drug resistance, and will provide rationales for novel drug discovery.
Topics: Humans; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Neoplasms; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
PubMed: 38342327
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107099 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2019Because angiogenesis is a major contributor to cancer progression and metastasis, it is an attractive target for cancer therapy. Although a diverse number of small... (Review)
Review
Because angiogenesis is a major contributor to cancer progression and metastasis, it is an attractive target for cancer therapy. Although a diverse number of small compounds for anti-angiogenic therapy have been developed, severe adverse effects commonly occur, since small compounds can affect not only tumor endothelial cells (TECs), but also normal endothelial cells. This low selectivity for TECs has motivated researchers to develop alternate types of drug delivery systems (DDSs). In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge concerning the delivery of nano DDSs to TECs. Their payloads range from small compounds to nucleic acids. Perspectives regarding new therapeutic targets are also mentioned.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Carriers; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Pathologic
PubMed: 31756900
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235819 -
Pharmacological Reviews Oct 2019Cancer in children is rare with approximately 15,700 new cases diagnosed in the United States annually. Through use of multimodality therapy (surgery, radiation therapy,... (Review)
Review
Cancer in children is rare with approximately 15,700 new cases diagnosed in the United States annually. Through use of multimodality therapy (surgery, radiation therapy, and aggressive chemotherapy), 70% of patients will be "cured" of their disease, and 5-year event-free survival exceeds 80%. However, for patients surviving their malignancy, therapy-related long-term adverse effects are severe, with an estimated 50% having chronic life-threatening toxicities related to therapy in their fourth or fifth decade of life. While overall intensive therapy with cytotoxic agents continues to reduce cancer-related mortality, new understanding of the molecular etiology of many childhood cancers offers an opportunity to redirect efforts to develop effective, less genotoxic therapeutic options, including agents that target oncogenic drivers directly, and the potential for use of agents that target the tumor microenvironment and immune-directed therapies. However, for many high-risk cancers, significant challenges remain.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Drug Development; Humans; Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 31558580
DOI: 10.1124/pr.118.016972 -
Marine Drugs Feb 2021Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and antineoplastic drug research continues to be a major field in medicine development. The marine milieu has... (Review)
Review
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and antineoplastic drug research continues to be a major field in medicine development. The marine milieu has thousands of biological species that are a valuable source of novel functional proteins and peptides, which have been used in the treatment of many diseases, including cancer. In contrast with proteins and polypeptides, small peptides (with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da) have overwhelming advantages, such as preferential and fast absorption, which can decrease the burden on human gastrointestinal function. Besides, these peptides are only connected by a few peptide bonds, and their small molecular weight makes it easy to modify and synthesize them. Specifically, small peptides can deliver nutrients and drugs to cells and tissues in the body. These characteristics make them stand out in relation to targeted drug therapy. Nowadays, the anticancer mechanisms of the small marine peptides are still largely not well understood; however, several marine peptides have been applied in preclinical treatment. This paper highlights the anticancer linear and cyclic small peptides in marine resources and presents a review of peptides and the derivatives and their mechanisms.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Humans; Neoplasms; Peptides; Peptides, Cyclic
PubMed: 33669851
DOI: 10.3390/md19020115 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that exist almost ubiquitously inside the various tissues of living plants where they act as an important reservoir of diverse... (Review)
Review
Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that exist almost ubiquitously inside the various tissues of living plants where they act as an important reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds. Recently, endophytic fungi have drawn tremendous attention from researchers; their isolation, culture, purification, and characterization have revealed the presence of around 200 important and diverse compounds including anticancer agents, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, immunosuppressants, and antimycotics. Many of these anticancer compounds, such as paclitaxel, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, podophyllotoxin, and their derivatives, are currently being used clinically for the treatment of various cancers (e.g., ovarian, breast, prostate, lung cancers, and leukemias). By increasing the yield of specific compounds with genetic engineering and other biotechnologies, endophytic fungi could be a promising, prolific source of anticancer drugs. In the future, compounds derived from endophytic fungi could increase treatment availability and cost effectiveness. This comprehensive review includes the putative anticancer compounds from plant-derived endophytic fungi discovered from 1990 to 2020 with their source endophytic fungi and host plants as well as their antitumor activity against various cell lines.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Clinical Studies as Topic; Drug Discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Endophytes; Fungi; Humans; Plants; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 35011527
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010296 -
Archives of Pharmacal Research May 2022Exosomes are extracellular vesicles, 50-150 nm in diameter, released by most cells. Exosomes contain several intracellular components, including DNA, RNA, and proteins,... (Review)
Review
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles, 50-150 nm in diameter, released by most cells. Exosomes contain several intracellular components, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, which reflect the parent cell's status and contribute to intercellular communication. Cancers are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Owing to a high survival rate, cancer treatment by immune modulation of the tumor microenvironment has recently received a lot of attention. Exosomes' role in immunological control is also being studied extensively. Exosomes play a role in cancer-immune cell communication. Through intracellular communication, exosomes promote tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. In addition, innate immune cell-derived exosomes and adaptive immune cell exosomes have an anti-tumorigenic activity. Exosome-related tumor microenvironment drugs are being developed, including inhibitors of exosomal release, tumor-derived exosomes, and immune cell-derived exosome engineering, although there are still some obstacles to overcome. We describe in this review the significance of exosomes in the tumor microenvironment. We also summarize current studies on anticancer immune drug development and the challenges in developing exosome-related drugs.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinogenesis; Cell Communication; Exosomes; Humans; Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 35604532
DOI: 10.1007/s12272-022-01387-1 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Grifolin is a volatile compound contained in essential oils of several medicinal plants. Several studies show that this substance has been the subject of numerous... (Review)
Review
Grifolin is a volatile compound contained in essential oils of several medicinal plants. Several studies show that this substance has been the subject of numerous pharmacological investigations, which have yielded interesting results. Grifolin demonstrated beneficial effects for health via its multiple pharmacological activities. It has anti-microbial properties against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In addition, grifolin exhibited remarkable anti-cancer effects on different human cancer cells. The anticancer action of this molecule is related to its ability to act at cellular and molecular levels on different checkpoints controlling the signaling pathways of human cancer cell lines. Grifolin can induce apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and senescence in these cells. Despite its major pharmacological properties, grifolin has only been investigated in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, further investigations concerning pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic tests are required for any possible pharmaceutical application of this substance. Moreover, toxicological tests and other investigations involving humans as a study model are required to validate the safety and clinical applications of grifolin.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Terpenes
PubMed: 35011516
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010284 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2022Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase over-expressed in different solid cancers. In recent years, FAK has been recognized as a new target for the... (Review)
Review
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase over-expressed in different solid cancers. In recent years, FAK has been recognized as a new target for the development of antitumor agents, useful to contrast tumor development and metastasis formation. To date, studies on the role of FAK and FAK inhibitors are of great interest for both pharmaceutical companies and academia. This review is focused on compounds able to block FAK with different potencies and with different mechanisms of action, that have appeared in the literature since 2017. Furthermore, new emerging PROTAC molecules have appeared in the literature. This summary could improve knowledge of new FAK inhibitors and provide information for future investigations, in particular, from a medicinal chemistry point of view.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Humans; Neoplasms; Protein Kinase Inhibitors
PubMed: 35742823
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126381 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2023Treatment of metastatic cancer is one of the biggest challenges in anticancer therapy. Curcumin is interesting nature polyphenolic compound with unique biological and... (Review)
Review
Treatment of metastatic cancer is one of the biggest challenges in anticancer therapy. Curcumin is interesting nature polyphenolic compound with unique biological and medicinal effects, including repression of metastases. High impact studies imply that curcumin can modulate the immune system, independently target various metastatic signalling pathways, and repress migration and invasiveness of cancer cells. This review discusses the potential of curcumin as an antimetastatic agent and describes potential mechanisms of its antimetastatic activity. In addition, possible strategies (curcumin formulation, optimization of the method of administration and modification of its structure motif) to overcome its limitation such as low solubility and bioactivity are also presented. These strategies are discussed in the context of clinical trials and relevant biological studies.
Topics: Humans; Curcumin; Antineoplastic Agents; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37141738
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114758 -
Toxins Jun 2020The level of complexity in a disease like cancer presents a number of challenges for effective treatment development, which require significant innovation to overcome...
The level of complexity in a disease like cancer presents a number of challenges for effective treatment development, which require significant innovation to overcome [...].
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Neoplasms; Toxins, Biological
PubMed: 32585926
DOI: 10.3390/toxins12060416