Enhancement of interferon gamma stability as an anticancer therapeutic protein against hepatocellular carcinoma upon interaction with calycosin

Interferon gamma-induced hub genes and key pathways: A study based on biological network analysis and experimental validation

By performing a biological network analysis, we identified some hub genes, which were up- or down-regulated in the breast cancer (BC) cell line after treatment with IFN-γ. Moreover, several pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, TNF signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway were detected that their activation leads to the antiproliferation, proapoptosis, and antiviral activities. To validate in silico results, the bioactivity of recombinant human IFN-γ (hIFN-γ) produced in different hosts was analyzed by antiviral and anticancer assays. The antiviral role of the hIFN-γ preparations was evaluated by inhibition of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)-mediated cytopathic effects on Vero cells. A dose-dependent increase in cell viability was observed at different concentrations of recombinant proteins. The maximum amount of the cell viability detected for the hIFN-γ preparations was determined at a concentration of 32.00 pg/mL. To analyze the cytotoxic efficacy of the hIFN-γ preparations on the growth and development of tumor cells, a BC cell line (MCF-7) was treated with both recombinant protein forms in a time- and dose-dependent way. The highest level of inhibiting cell proliferation was detected at a concentration of 32.00 pg/mL hIFN-γ after 72 h incubation. Anticancer and antiviral functions of IFN-γ were confirmed via the expression analysis of hub genes cd74, cxcl10, il6, and stat1 using RT-PCR. Furthermore, the hIFN-γ preparations were significantly able to up-regulate the expression of proapoptotic Bax and p53 and to down-regulate Bcl-2 as an antiapoptotic gene, showing the cytotoxic effect of hIFN-γ toward MCF-7 cells via apoptosis induction.

Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers of hepatobiliary system: from clinical evidence to drug discovery

Hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer pose significant challenges in the field of digestive system diseases due to their highly malignant nature. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach with long-standing use in China and well-recognized clinical benefits. In this review, we systematically summarized the clinical applications of TCM that have shown promising results in clinical trials in treating hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer. We highlighted several commonly used TCM therapeutics with validated efficacy through rigorous clinical trials, including Huaier Granule, Huachansu, and Icaritin. The active compounds and their potential targets have been thoroughly elucidated to offer valuable insights into the potential of TCM for anti-cancer drug discovery. We emphasized the importance of further research to bridge the gap between TCM and modern oncology, facilitating the development of evidence-based TCM treatment for these challenging malignancies.

Efficacy and Safety of Bufei Jiedu Granules in Treating Multidrug-Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Multi-center, Double-Blinded and Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of Bufei Jiedu (BFJD) ranules as adjuvant therapy for patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB).

METHODS

A large-scale, multi-center, double-blinded, and randomized controlled trial was conducted in 18 sentinel hospitals in China from December 2012 to December 2016. A total of 312 MDR-PTB patients were randomly assigned to BFJD Granules or placebo groups (1:1) using a stratified randomization method, which both received the long-course chemotherapy regimen for 18 months (6 Am-Lfx-P-Z-Pto, 12 Lfx-P-Z-Pto). Meanwhile, patients in both groups also received BFJD Granules or placebo twice a day for a total of 18 months, respectively. The primary outcome was cure rate. The secondary outcomes included time to sputum-culture conversion, changes in lung cavities and quality of life (QoL) of patients. Adverse reactions were monitored during and after the trial.

RESULTS

A total of 216 cases completed the trial, 111 in the BFJD Granules group and 105 in the placebo group. BFJD Granules, as an adjuvant treatment, increased the cure rate by 13.6% at the end of treatment, compared with the placebo (58.4% vs. 44.8%, P=0.02), and accelerated the median time to sputum-culture conversion (5 months vs. 11 months). The cavity closure rate of the BFJD Granules group (50.6%, 43/85) was higher than that of the placebo group (32.1%, 26/81; P=0.02) in patients who completed the treatment. At the end of the intensive treatment, according to the 36-item Short Form, the BFJD Granules significantly improved physical functioning, general health, and vitality of patients relative to the placebo group (all P<0.01). Overall, the death rates in the two groups were not significantly different; 5.1% (8/156) in the BFJD Granules group and 2.6% (4/156) in the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementing BFJD Granules with the long-course chemotherapy regimen significantly increased the cure rate and cavity closure rates, and rapidly improved QoL of patients with MDR-PTB (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002850).

Exploring the multi-targeting phytoestrogen potential of Calycosin for cancer treatment: A review

Cancer remains a significant challenge in the field of oncology, with the search for novel and effective treatments ongoing. Calycosin (CA), a phytoestrogen derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has garnered attention as a promising candidate. With its high targeting and low toxicity profile, CA has demonstrated medicinal potential across various diseases, including cancers, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Studies have revealed that CA possesses inhibitory effects against a diverse array of cancers. The underlying mechanism of action involves a reduction in tumor cell proliferation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, and suppression of tumor cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, CA has been shown to enhance the efficacy of certain chemotherapeutic drugs, making it a potential component in treating malignant tumors. Given its high efficacy, low toxicity, and multi-targeting characteristics, CA holds considerable promise as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. The objective of this review is to present a synthesis of the current understanding of the antitumor mechanism of CA and its research progress.

Unveiling the potential anti-cancer activity of calycosin against multivarious cancers with molecular insights: A promising frontier in cancer research

BACKGROUND

Calycosin may be a potential candidate regarding chemotherapeutic agent, because already some studies against multivarious cancer have been made with this natural compound.

AIM

This review elucidated a brief overview of previous studies on calycosin potential effects on various cancers and its potential mechanism of action.

METHODOLOGY

Data retrieved by systematic searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Scopus by using keywords including calycosin, cancer types, anti-cancer mechanism, synergistic, and pharmacokinetic and commonly used tools are BioRender, ChemDraw Professional 16.0, and ADMETlab 2.0.

RESULTS

Based on our review, calycosin is available in nature and effective against around 15 different types of cancer. Generally, the anti-cancer mechanism of this compound is mediated through a variety of processes, including regulation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle, angiogenesis and metastasis, oncogenes, enzymatic pathways, and signal transduction process. These study conducted in various study models, including in silico, in vitro, preclinical and clinical models. The molecular framework behind the anti-cancer effect is targeting some oncogenic and therapeutic proteins and multiple signaling cascades. Therapies based on nano-formulated calycosin may make excellent nanocarriers for the delivery of this compound to targeted tissue as well as particular organ. This natural compound becomes very effective when combined with other natural compounds and some standard drugs. Moreover, proper use of this compound can reverse resistance to existing anti-cancer drugs through a variety of strategies. Calycosin showed better pharmacokinetic properties with less toxicity in human bodies.

CONCLUSION

Calycosin exhibits excellent potential as a therapeutic drug against several cancer types and should be consumed until standard chemotherapeutics are available in pharma markets.

Therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of active components of QiLing decoction against castration-resistant prostate cancer based on network pharmacology

QiLing decoction (QLD) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound. This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of QLD in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and its potential bio-targets. A total of 51 active components and QLD 149 targets were identified using bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, five optimal hub target genes were screened including tumor protein P53 (TP53), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), caspase-3 (CASP-3), and estrogen receptor-1 (ESR-1). The interrelated network between active components of QLD and their potential targets was constructed. The molecular function, biological processes, and signaling pathways of QLD-against CRPC were identified. Moreover, QLD was found to efficiently exert a repressive effect on CRPC tumor growth mainly by suppressing the activation of HIF-α/VEGFA and TNF-α/IL6 signaling pathways, and increasing the P53 expression level. These results successfully indicated the potential anti-CRPC mechanism of the active components of QLD.