Natural Products to Prevent Cancer Progression

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 8785

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Guest Editor
Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan
Interests: oncology proteomics; complementary medicine; oncology; ureteroscopy; punicalagin; proteins
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is an ailment that engages cells’ irregular growth with the potential to invade and metastasize to other body portions. The perpetual augmentation in cancer incidence worldwide, along with rising troubles with drug resistance and recurrence, drives the escalating interest in searching for various strategies for cancer prevention. Chemoprevention uses natural, synthetic or biological agents to avoid or suppress the initial phase of carcinogenesis to inhibit the premalignant cells. Chemoprevention is a comparatively safe and cost-saving method because cancer can be averted by changing dietary habits. Drug-related toxicity is a cardinal obstacle for currently available chemotherapeutic drugs.

Nevertheless, using natural compounds for cancer prevention may lower drug toxicity. The attention in chemoprevention has increased mainly with a gradual uncovering of cancer biology, recognition of molecular gene targets and good accomplishment in breast, prostate and colon cancer prevention. At the molecular level, cancer chemoprevention can target one of three basic steps of carcinogenesis: initiation, promotion and progression. Primary chemoprevention is appropriate for the general healthy population and those at high risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. Secondary chemoprevention is apt for people with premalignant lesions, which may develop into cancer. In this Issue, we will accept all manuscripts involving natural or biological agents with defined molecular compounds, which prevent or suppress all the stages of various cancers.

Prof. Dr. Ting-Feng Wu
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 14133 KiB  
Article
Tephrosin Suppresses the Chemoresistance of Paclitaxel-Resistant Ovarian Cancer via Inhibition of FGFR1 Signaling Pathway
by Hee Su Kim, Sowon Bae, Ye Jin Lim, Kyeong A So, Tae Jin Kim, Seunghee Bae and Jae Ho Lee
Biomedicines 2023, 11(12), 3155; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11123155 - 27 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1454
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecologic cancers. Paclitaxel is used as a standard first-line therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. However, chemotherapeutic resistance and high recurrence rates are major obstacles to treating ovarian cancer. We have found that tephrosin, a [...] Read more.
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecologic cancers. Paclitaxel is used as a standard first-line therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. However, chemotherapeutic resistance and high recurrence rates are major obstacles to treating ovarian cancer. We have found that tephrosin, a natural rotenoid isoflavonoid, can resensitize paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel. Cell viability, immunoblotting, and a flow cytometric analysis showed that a combination treatment made up of paclitaxel and tephrosin induced apoptotic death. Tephrosin inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT, STAT3, ERK, and p38 MAPK, all of which simultaneously play important roles in survival signaling pathways. Notably, tephrosin downregulated the phosphorylation of FGFR1 and its specific adapter protein FRS2, but it had no effect on the phosphorylation of the EGFR. Immunoblotting and a fluo-3 acetoxymethyl assay showed that tephrosin did not affect the expression or function of P-glycoprotein. Additionally, treatment with N-acetylcysteine did not restore cell cytotoxicity caused by a treatment combination made up of paclitaxel and tephrosin, showing that tephrosin did not affect the reactive oxygen species scavenging pathway. Interestingly, tephrosin reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor XIAP. This study demonstrates that tephrosin is a potent antitumor agent that can be used in the treatment of paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer via the inhibition of the FGFR1 signaling pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products to Prevent Cancer Progression)
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23 pages, 10927 KiB  
Article
Oils from Transgenic Flax Lines as Potential Chemopreventive Agents in Colorectal Cancer
by Tomasz Gębarowski, Benita Wiatrak, Izabela Jęśkowiak-Kossakowska, Magdalena Grajzer and Anna Prescha
Biomedicines 2023, 11(9), 2592; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11092592 - 21 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1814
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a major global health concern, and the need for effective chemopreventive agents is paramount. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of oils from transgenically modified flax for the prevention of colorectal cancer, in relation to the oil concertation. Flaxseed [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer is a major global health concern, and the need for effective chemopreventive agents is paramount. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of oils from transgenically modified flax for the prevention of colorectal cancer, in relation to the oil concertation. Flaxseed oils were obtained from traditional (Nike) and genetically modified flax lines (M and B). Cell viability assays were performed on various cancer cell lines, including colon adenocarcinoma cells. Flaxseed oil B exhibited the strongest anti-proliferative properties compared to the reference drugs and other oils. Additionally, M and B oils showed enhanced accumulation of Rhodamine 123 and increased apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. M oil exhibited the highest levels of p53 protein. Notably, the tested transgenic oils did not induce metastasis and displayed stronger inhibition of COX-1 compared to COX-2. These data indicate the utility of flaxseed oils, especially from the M line, as adjuvants in colorectal cancer treatment, targeting the colon specifically. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products to Prevent Cancer Progression)
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16 pages, 3422 KiB  
Article
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Prevents the Acquisition of a Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype in Ovarian Cancer Tumorspheres through the Inhibition of Src/JAK/STAT3 Signaling
by Sahily Rodriguez Torres, Loraine Gresseau, Meriem Benhamida, Yuniel Fernandez-Marrero and Borhane Annabi
Biomedicines 2023, 11(4), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11041000 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2403
Abstract
Three-dimensional tumorsphere cultures recapitulate the expression of several cancer stem cell (CSC) biomarkers and represent an effective in vitro platform to screen the anti-CSC properties of drugs. Whereas ovarian carcinoma is among the leading causes of death for women, ovarian CSC (OvCSC), a [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional tumorsphere cultures recapitulate the expression of several cancer stem cell (CSC) biomarkers and represent an effective in vitro platform to screen the anti-CSC properties of drugs. Whereas ovarian carcinoma is among the leading causes of death for women, ovarian CSC (OvCSC), a highly malignant subpopulation of ovarian cancer cells, is thought to be responsible for therapy resistance, metastasis, and tumor relapse. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a diet-derived active polyphenol found in green tea leaves, can suppress ovarian cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. However, its capacity to prevent the acquisition of cancer stemness traits in ovarian malignancies remains unclear. Here, we exploited the in vitro three-dimensional tumorsphere culture model to explore the capacity of EGCG to alter CSC biomarkers expression, signal transducing events and cell chemotaxis. Total RNA and protein lysates were isolated from human ES-2 ovarian cancer cell tumorspheres for gene assessment by RT-qPCR and protein expression by immunoblot. Real-time cell chemotaxis was assessed with xCELLigence. Compared with their parental adherent cells, tumorspheres expressed increased levels of the CSC markers NANOG, SOX2, PROM1, and Fibronectin. EGCG treatment reduced dose-dependently tumorspheres size and inhibited the transcriptional regulation of those genes. Src and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways appeared to be relevant for CSC phenotype and chemotactic response. In conclusion, these data highlight and support the chemopreventive benefits of the diet-derived EGCG and its capacity to target intracellular transducing events that regulate the acquisition of an invasive CSC phenotype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products to Prevent Cancer Progression)
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Review

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20 pages, 5103 KiB  
Review
Natural Products as Regulators against Matrix Metalloproteinases for the Treatment of Cancer
by Md. Towhedul Islam, Nak Han Jang and Hyuck Jin Lee
Biomedicines 2024, 12(4), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12040794 - 3 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2494
Abstract
Cancers are currently the major cause of mortality in the world. According to previous studies, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have an impact on tumor cell proliferation, which could lead to the onset and progression of cancers. Therefore, regulating the expression and activity of MMPs, [...] Read more.
Cancers are currently the major cause of mortality in the world. According to previous studies, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have an impact on tumor cell proliferation, which could lead to the onset and progression of cancers. Therefore, regulating the expression and activity of MMPs, especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, could be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of cancers. Various studies have tried to investigate and understand the pathophysiology of cancers to suggest potent treatments. In this review, we summarize how natural products from marine organisms and plants, as regulators of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and enzymatic activity, can operate as potent anticancer agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products to Prevent Cancer Progression)
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