Cantharidic acid induces apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through p38-mediated upregulation of caspase activation

Off-label use of sodium cantharidinate and vitamin B6 injection in cancer: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In China, sodium cantharidinate/vitamin B6 (SC/VB6) injection has been approved since 2002 for the treatment of lung cancer and primary liver cancer. In addition to these authorized indications, clinical application of SC/VB6 is also common in various other types of cancer. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding on this topic. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to consolidate evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of off-label use of SC/VB6 in oncology.

METHODS

International databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus, as well as Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Wanfang, will be searched from the inception to 31 December 2024. Comparative studies that evaluated the add-on effect of SC/VB6 to conventional cancer treatments against the use of conventional treatments alone will be considered in the scope of this review. The primary outcomes are objective response rate and performance status. Secondary outcomes are disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). Depending on heterogeneity, data will be synthesized using either the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effect or the DerSimonian and Laird random-effect model. Subgroup analyses will be conducted for the following variables: type of cancer, study design, SC/VB6 dosage, treatment duration, and combined therapies, provided that each subgroup contains at least two studies. Sensitivity analyses will be performed on efficacy outcomes. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) will be utilized to appraise the overall quality of evidence.

DISCUSSION

This review will encompass both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies, thereby enabling us to synthesize and assess evidence across experimental and real-world observational settings. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding on the benefit-risk profile regarding the off-label use of SC/VB6 in oncology, guiding the trajectory of future research, and offering a robust scientific foundation to inform clinical and regulatory decision-making process.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42024504977.

Protein phosphatase 2A modulation and connection with miRNAs and natural products

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a heterotrimeric holoenzyme (scaffolding, catalytic, and regulatory subunits), regulates dephosphorylation for more than half of serine/threonine phosphosites and exhibits diverse cellular functions. Although several studies on natural products and miRNAs have emphasized their impacts on PP2A regulation, their connections lack systemic organization. Moreover, only part of the PP2A family has been investigated. This review focuses on the PP2A-modulating effects of natural products and miRNAs' interactions with potential PP2A targets in cancer and non-cancer cells. PP2A-modulating natural products and miRNAs were retrieved through a literature search. Utilizing the miRDB database, potential PP2A targets of these PP2A-modulating miRNAs for the whole set (17 members) of the PP2A family were retrieved. Finally, PP2A-modulating natural products and miRNAs were linked via a literature search. This review provides systemic directions for assessing natural products and miRNAs relating to the PP2A-modulating functions in cancer and disease treatments.

The efficacy of natural products for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originating in the nasopharyngeal epithelium with a high incidence in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia. The current treatment methods are mainly radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, they often have side effects and are not suitable for long-term exposure. Natural products have received more and more attention in cancer prevention and treatment because of their its high efficiency, low toxic side effects, and low toxicity. Natural products can serve as a viable alternative, and this study aimed to review the efficacy and mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of NPC by examining previous literature. Most natural products act by inhibiting cell proliferation, metastasis, inducing cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Although further research is needed to verify their effectiveness and safety, natural products can significantly improve the treatment of NPC.

Norbornene and Related Structures as Scaffolds in the Search for New Cancer Treatments

The norbornene scaffold has arisen as a promising structure in medicinal chemistry due to its possible therapeutic application in cancer treatment. The development of norbornene-based derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic agents is attracting significant attention. Here, we report an unprecedented review on the recent advances of investigations into the antitumoral efficacy of different compounds, including the abovementioned bicyclic scaffold in their structure, in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or forming metal complexes. The impact that structural modifications to these bicyclic compounds have on the antitumoral properties and the mechanisms by which these norbornene derivatives act are discussed in this review. In addition, the use of norbornene, and its related compounds, encapsulation in nanosystems for its use in cancer therapies is here detailed.

Functional Roles of JNK and p38 MAPK Signaling in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members integrate signals that affect proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration in a cell context- and cell type-specific way. JNK and p38 MAPK activities are found upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Studies have shown that activation of JNK and p38 MAPK signaling can promote NPC oncogenesis by mechanisms within the cancer cells and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. They regulate multiple transcription activities and contribute to tumor-promoting processes, ranging from cell proliferation to apoptosis, inflammation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Current literature suggests that JNK and p38 MAPK activation may exert pro-tumorigenic functions in NPC, though the underlying mechanisms are not well documented and have yet to be fully explored. Here, we aim to provide a narrative review of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in human cancers with a primary focus on NPC. We also discuss the potential therapeutic agents that could be used to target JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC, along with perspectives for future works. We aim to inspire future studies further delineating JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC oncogenesis which might offer important insights for better strategies in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decision-making in NPC patients.

FLLL32 Triggers Caspase-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Oral Cancer Cells by Regulating the p38 Pathway

Oral cancer is the most common oral malignant tumor in Taiwan. Although there exist several methods for treatment, oral cancer still has a poor prognosis and high recurrence. FLLL32, a synthetic analog of curcumin with antitumor activity, is currently known to induce melanoma apoptosis and inhibit tumor growth in various cancers. However, few studies have examined the mechanisms of FLLL32 in oral cancer. In this study, we explore whether FLLL32 induces apoptosis in oral cancer. We determined that FLLL32 can inhibit the cell viability of oral cancer. Next, we analyzed the effect of FLLL32 on the cell cycle of oral cancer cells and observed that the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase was increased. Additionally, annexin-V/PI double staining revealed that FLLL32 induced apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Data from the Human Apoptosis Array revealed that FLLL32 increases the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). FLLL32 activates proteins such as caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, PARP, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in apoptosis-related molecular mechanisms. Moreover, by using MAPK inhibitors, we suggest that FLLL32 induces the apoptosis of oral cancer cells through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings suggest that FLLL32 is a potential therapeutic agent for oral cancer by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis and HO-1 activation through the p38 pathway. We believe that the activation of HO-1 and the p38 pathway by FLLL32 represent potential targets for further research in oral cancer.