Tanshinone IIA sensitizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma through inducing the expression of death receptors (and suppressing STAT3 activation)

Tröger's Base as a Potential Bridge to Type-I Photosensitizers: Mechanism and Antitumor Applications

In contrast to Type-II photodynamic therapy (PDT), Type-I PDT with less oxygen consumption has shown great potential against tumor hypoxia. However, there are limited strategies available for designing Type-I photosensitizers (PSs). Herein, we present a promising strategy for synthesizing Type-I PSs (TBC-1-TBC-4) using Tröger's base (TB) framework. The TB framework can promote intersystem crossing efficiency and create an electron-rich environment, making it the most likely site for electron transfer to O2 to generate Type-I ROS. As anticipated, TBC-1-TBC-4 demonstrates Type-I ROS generation capability and their impressive visible light-harvesting ability significantly enhances this capability. Among them, TBC-1 demonstrates outstanding biocompatibility and PDT efficiency in vitro under both normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, TBC-1 effectively inhibits tumor growth in vivo, with negligible side effects. This is attributed to TBC-1's efficient generation of Type-I ROS and endoplasmic reticulum targeting ability. This study thus offers useful insights into developing Type-I PSs.

Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Glioma: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms

Despite the waning of traditional treatments for glioma due to possible long-term issues, the healing possibilities of substances derived from nature have been reignited in the scientific community. These natural substances, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, are considered potential alternatives to pharmaceuticals, as they have been shown in prior research to impact pathways surrounding cancer progression, metastases, invasion, and resistance. This review will explore the supposed molecular mechanisms of different natural components, such as berberine, curcumin, coffee, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, tanshinone, silymarin, coumarin, and lycopene, concerning glioma treatment. While the benefits of a balanced diet containing these compounds are widely recognized, there is considerable scope for investigating the efficacy of these natural products in treating glioma.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) based nano-delivery systems for anticancer therapeutics

BACKGROUND

The ancient Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), plays the important role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, Danshen could also be used for curing carcinogenesis. Up to now, the anti-tumor effects of the main active constituents of Danshen have made great progress. However, the bioavailability of the active constituents of Danshen were restricted by their unique physical characteristics, like low oral bioavailability, rapid degradation in vivo and so on.

PURPOSE

With the leap development of nano-delivery systems, the shortcomings of the active constituents of Danshen have been greatly ameliorated. This review tried to summarize the recent progress of the active constituents of Danshen based delivery systems used for anti-tumor therapeutics.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using 5 databases (Embase, Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases) for the identification of relevant data published before September 2023. The words "Danshen", "Salvia miltiorrhiza", "Tanshinone", "Salvianolic acid", "Rosmarinic acid", "tumor", "delivery", "nanomedicine" and other active ingredients contained in Danshen were searched in the above databases to gather information about pharmaceutical decoration for the active constituents of Danshen used for anti-tumor therapeutics.

RESULTS

The main extracts of Danshen could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells effectively and a great deal of studies were conducted to design drug delivery systems to ameliorate the anti-tumor effect of the active contents of Danshen through different ways, like improving bioavailability, increasing tumor targeting ability, enhancing biological barrier permeability and co-delivering with other active agents.

CONCLUSION

This review systematically represented recent progress of pharmaceutical decorations for the active constituents of Danshen used for anti-tumor therapeutics, revealing the diversity of nano-decoration skills and trying to inspire more designs of Danshen based nanodelivery systems, with the hope that bringing the nanomedicine of the active constituents of Danshen for anti-tumor therapeutics from bench to bedside in the near future.

6-Methoxydihydrosanguinarine exhibits cytotoxicity and sensitizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through ROS-mediated upregulation of DR5

6-methoxydihydrosanguinarine (6-MS), a natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid extracted from Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br, has shown to trigger apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. However, the exact mechanisms involved have not yet been clarified. The current study reveals the underlying mechanisms of 6-MS-induced cytotoxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and investigates whether 6-MS sensitizes TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. 6-MS was shown to suppress cell proliferation and trigger cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and apoptosis in HCC cells. Mechanisms analysis indicated that 6-MS promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, JNK activation, and inhibits EGFR/Akt signaling pathway. DNA damage and apoptosis induced by 6-MS were reversed following N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) treatment. The enhancement of PARP cleavage caused by 6-MS was abrogated by pretreatment with JNK inhibitor SP600125. Furthermore, 6-MS enhanced TRAIL-mediated HCC cells apoptosis by upregulating the cell surface receptor DR5 expression. Pretreatment with NAC attenuated 6-MS-upregulated DR5 protein expression and alleviated cotreatment-induced viability reduction, cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-9, and PARP. Overall, our results suggest that 6-MS exerts cytotoxicity by modulating ROS generation, EGFR/Akt signaling, and JNK activation in HCC cells. 6-MS potentiates TRAIL-induced apoptosis through upregulation of DR5 via ROS generation. The combination of 6-MS with TRAIL may be a promising strategy and warrants further investigation.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in breast cancer: The crosstalk with oncogenic and onco-suppressor factors in regulation of cancer hallmarks

Low oxygen level at tumor microenvironment leads to a condition, known as hypoxia that is implicated in cancer progression. Upon hypoxia, HIF-1α undergoes activation and due to its oncogenic function and interaction with other molecular pathways, promotes tumor progression. The HIF-1α role in regulating breast cancer progression is described, Overall, HIF-1α has upregulation in breast tumor and due to its tumor-promoting function, its upregulation is in favor of breast tumor progression. HIF-1α overexpression prevents apoptosis in breast tumor and it promotes cell cycle progression. Silencing HIF-1α triggers cycle arrest and decreases growth. Migration of breast tumor enhances by HIF-1α signaling and it mainly induces EMT in providing metastasis. HIF-1α upregulation stimulates drug resistance and radio-resistance in breast tumor. Furthermore, HIF-1α signaling induces immune evasion of breast cancer. Berberine and pharmacological intervention suppress HIF-1α signaling in breast tumor and regulation of HIF-1α by non-coding RNAs occurs. Furthermore, HIF-1α is a biomarker in clinic.

Immune Exosomes Loading Self-Assembled Nanomicelles Traverse the Blood-Brain Barrier for Chemo-immunotherapy against Glioblastoma

Effective drug delivery and prevention of postoperative recurrence are significant challenges for current glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Poor drug delivery is mainly due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and postoperative recurrence is primarily due to the resistance of GBM cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Herein, a biomimetic nanodrug delivery platform based on endogenous exosomes that could efficiently target the brain without targeting modifications and co-deliver pure drug nanomicelles and immune adjuvants for safe and efficient chemo-immunotherapy against GBM is prepared. Inspired by the self-assembly technology of small molecules, tanshinone IIA (TanIIA) and glycyrrhizic acid (GL), which are the inhibitors of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), self-assembled to form TanIIA-GL nanomicelles (TGM). Endogenous serum exosomes are selected to coat the pure drug nanomicelles, and the CpG oligonucleotides, agonists of Toll-like receptor 9, are anchored on the exosome membrane to obtain immune exosomes loaded with TCM self-assembled nanomicelles (CpG-EXO/TGM). Our results demonstrate that CpG-EXO/TGM can bind free transferrin in blood, prolong blood circulation, and maintain intact structures when traversing the BBB and targeting GBM cells. In the GBM microenvironment, the strong anti-GBM effect of CpG-EXO/TGM is mainly attributed to two factors: (i) highly efficient uptake by GBM cells and sufficient intracellular release of drugs to induce apoptosis and (ii) stimulation of dendritic cell maturation and induction of tumor-associated macrophages polarization by CpG oligonucleotides to generate anti-GBM immune responses. Further research found that CpG-EXO/TGM can not only produce better efficacy in combination with temozolomide but also prevent a postoperative recurrence.

Phytochemicals Targeting Ferroptosis: Therapeutic Opportunities and Prospects for Treating Breast Cancer

Ferroptosis, a recently discovered iron-dependent regulated cell death, has been implicated in the therapeutic responses of various cancers including breast cancer, making it a promising therapeutic target to manage this malignancy. Phytochemicals are conventional sources for medication development. Some phytochemicals have been utilized therapeutically to treat cancers as pharmaceutic agents or dietary supplements. Intriguingly, a considerable number of antitumor drugs derived from phytochemicals have been proven to be targeting ferroptosis, thus producing anticancer effects. In this review, we provide a short overview of the interaction between core ferroptosis modulators and breast cancer, illustrating how ferroptosis affects the destiny of breast cancer cells. We also systematically summarize the regulatory effects of phytochemicals on ferroptosis and emphasize their clinical applications in breast cancer suppression, which may accelerate the development of their therapeutic use in breast cancer.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.

The Antigastric Cancer Effect of Triptolide is Associated With H19/NF-κB/FLIP Axis

Background and Objective: Triptolide (TP), one of the fat-soluble components extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TWHF), possesses strong antitumor bioactivities, but its dose-dependent side effects restrict its wide application. This study was designed to investigate whether inflammatory factors increased the antitumor effects of the nontoxic dose of TP on gastric cancer cells and tried to explore the possible molecular mechanisms.

Method: AGS and MKN45 cells were treated with different doses of TP and TNF-α. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected in vitro. In addition, NF-κB mediated prosurvival signals and cytoprotective proteins, especially FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), were detected to determine their effects on TP/TNF-α–induced apoptosis. Moreover, the function of lncRNA H19/miR-204-5p/NF-κB/FLIP axis was investigated in vitro, and the antigastric cancer effect of TP plus TNF-α was proved in the mice xenograft model.

Result:In vitro experimental results showed that TP pretreatment promoted apoptosis in AGS and MKN45 cells upon TNF-α exposure. TP/TNF-α–mediated apoptosis was partly mediated by the inhibitory effect of NF-κB–mediated FLIP expression. Oncogene H19 lying in the upstream pathway of NF-κB played a vital role upon TNF-α exposure, and bioinformatics analysis proved that H19 participated in TP/TNF-α–induced apoptosis via binding of miR-204-5p. Lastly, a low dose of TP and TNF-α inhibited the tumor weight and tumor volume of AGS and MKN45 cells in vivo.

Conclusion: TP pretreatment increased apoptosis in TNF-α–stimulated gastric cancer cells, which are dependent on the disruption of the H19/miR-204-5p/NF-κB/FLIP axis. Cotreatment of TP and TNF-α is a better option for enhancing the anticancer effect and lowering the side effect of TP.

Post-Transcriptional Modifications of RNA as Regulators of Apoptosis in Glioblastoma

This review is devoted to changes in the post-transcriptional maturation of RNA in human glioblastoma cells, which leads to disruption of the normal course of apoptosis in them. The review thoroughly highlights the latest information on both post-transcriptional modifications of certain regulatory RNAs, associated with the process of apoptosis, presents data on the features of apoptosis in glioblastoma cells, and shows the relationship between regulatory RNAs and the apoptosis in tumor cells. In conclusion, potential target candidates are presented that are necessary for the development of new drugs for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Tanshinone IIA: New Perspective on the Anti-Tumor Mechanism of A Traditional Natural Medicine

The search for natural and efficacious antineoplastic drugs, with minimal toxicity and side effects, is an important part of antitumor drug research and development. Tanshinone IIA is the most evaluated lipophilic active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Tanshinone IIA is a path-breaking traditional drug applied in cardiovascular treatment. It has also been found that tanshinone IIA plays an important role in the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, as well as in other tumor diseases. Tanshinone IIA significantly inhibits the proliferation of several types of tumors, blocks the cell cycle, induces apoptosis and autophagic death, in addition to inhibiting cell migration and invasion. Among these, the regulation of tumor-cell apoptosis signaling pathways is the key breakthrough point in several modes of antitumor therapy. The PI3K/AKT/MTOR signaling pathway and the JNK pathway are the key pathways for tanshinone IIA to induce tumor cell apoptosis. In addition to glycolysis, reactive oxygen species and signal transduction all play an active role with the participation of tanshinone IIA. Endogenous apoptosis is considered the main mechanism of tumor apoptosis induced by tanshinone IIA. Multiple pathways and targets play a role in the process of endogenous apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA can protect chemotherapy drugs, which is mainly reflected in the protection of the side effects of chemotherapy drugs, such as neurotoxicity and inhibition of the hematopoietic system. Tanshinone IIA also has a certain regulatory effect on tumor angiogenesis, which is mainly manifested in the control of hypoxia. Our findings indicated that tanshinone IIA is an effective treatment agent in the cardiovascular field and plays a significant role in antitumor therapeutics. This paper reviews the pharmacological potential and inhibitory effect of tanshinone IIA on cancer. It is greatly anticipated that tanshinone IIA will be employed as an adjuvant in the treatment of various cancers.