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Zhang Y, Xu H, Li Y, Sun Y, Peng X. Advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with traditional Chinese medicine. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1089245. [PMID: 37608897 PMCID: PMC10440824 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1089245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a common malignancy of the digestive system. With a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, it is called the "king of cancers." Currently, Western medicine treats pancreatic cancer mainly by surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the curative effect is not satisfactory. The application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of pancreatic cancer has many advantages and is becoming an important facet of comprehensive clinical treatment. In this paper, we review current therapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer. We also review the protective effects shown by TCM in different models and discuss the potential molecular mechanisms of these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaochun Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
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Yang PW, Xu PL, Cheng CS, Jiao JY, Wu Y, Dong S, Xie J, Zhu XY. Integrating network pharmacology and experimental models to investigate the efficacy of QYHJ on pancreatic cancer. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 297:115516. [PMID: 35817247 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Qingyihuaji decoction (QYHJ) is composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria barbata D.Don (Banzhilian, HSB), Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan, GP), Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb. (Baihuasheshecao, HDH), Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (Lingzhi, GL), Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Doukou, AK), and Amorphophallus kiusianus (Makino) Makino (Sheliugu, RA), and Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf (Yiyiren, CL). QYHJ has been reported to exhibit clinical efficacy in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study explores the therapeutic mechanism of QYHJ in the treatment of PAAD using network pharmacology to identify related targets and pathways in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS The bioactive compounds of QYHJ were retrieved and screened using the ADME network pharmacology approach, followed by compound-target prediction and overlapping genes between PAAD oncogenes and QYHJ target genes. The compound-target-pathway network was established using The KEGG pathway, GO analysis, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis to identify potential action pathways. The effects of QYHJ on PAAD were evaluated in vivo and in vitro, and the predicted targets and potential pathways related to QYHJ in PAAD treatment were evaluated using qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. RESULTS A total of 68 bioactive compounds of QYHJ fulfilled the ADME screening criterion, and their respective 242 target genes were retrieved. The compound-target-disease network identified 11 possible target genes. The KEGG pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of pathways in cancers, involving regulating cancer-related pathways of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Furthermore, QYHJ inhibited PAAD growth in vivo; suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of PAAD; and induced cellular apoptosis in vitro. The qRT-PCR results showed that QYHJ suppressed the mRNA expression of ICAM1, VCAM1, and Bcl2, and increased that of HMOX1 and NQO1. Immunoblotting revealed changes in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1, and Bcl2/Bax pathways upon QYHJ treatment. CONCLUSIONS QYHJ can suppress PAAD growth and progression through various mechanisms, including anti-inflammation and apoptosis-induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Wen Yang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Pan-Ling Xu
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Chinese Integrative Medicine Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chien-Shan Cheng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Ju-Ying Jiao
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Dong
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Xie
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiao-Yan Zhu
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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Phytomedicines Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Opportunities and Prospects for Pharmaceutical Development. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070676. [PMID: 34358102 PMCID: PMC8308767 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of small subpopulations of cells within tumor cells are known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). These cells have been the reason for metastasis, resistance with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and tumor relapse in several types of cancers. CSCs underwent to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resulted in the development of aggressive tumors. CSCs have potential to modulate numerous signaling pathways including Wnt, Hh, and Notch, therefore increasing the stem-like characteristics of cancer cells. The raised expression of drug efflux pump and suppression of apoptosis has shown increased resistance with anti-cancer drugs. Among many agents which were shown to modulate these, the plant-derived bioactive agents appear to modulate these key regulators and were shown to remove CSCs. This review aims to comprehensively scrutinize the preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the effects of phytocompounds on CSCs isolated from various tumors. Based on the available convincing literature from preclinical studies, with some clinical data, it is apparent that selective targeting of CSCs with plants, plant preparations, and plant-derived bioactive compounds, termed phytochemicals, may be a promising strategy for the treatment of relapsed cancers.
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Cheng JW, Duan LX, Yu Y, Wang P, Feng JL, Feng GZ, Liu Y. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promote prostate cancer cell stemness via cell-cell contact to activate the Jagged1/Notch1 pathway. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:87. [PMID: 34001269 PMCID: PMC8130143 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00599-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in cancer development and tumor resistance to therapy in prostate cancer, but the influence of MSCs on the stemness potential of PCa cells by cell–cell contact remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of direct contact of PCa cells with MSCs on the stemness of PCa and its mechanisms. Methods First, the flow cytometry, colony formation, and sphere formation were performed to determine the stemness of PCaMSCs, and the expression of stemness-related molecules (Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog) was investigated by western blot analysis. Then, we used western blot and qPCR to determine the activity levels of two candidate pathways and their downstream stemness-associated pathway. Finally, we verified the role of the significantly changed pathway by assessing the key factors in this pathway via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results We established that MSCs promoted the stemness of PCa cells by cell–cell contact. We here established that the enhanced stemness of PCaMSCs was independent of the CCL5/CCR5 pathway. We also found that PCaMSCs up-regulated the expression of Notch signaling-related genes, and inhibition of Jagged1-Notch1 signaling in PCaMSCs cells significantly inhibited MSCs-induced stemness and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our results reveal a novel interaction between MSCs and PCa cells in promoting tumorigenesis through activation of the Jagged1/Notch1 pathway, providing a new therapeutic target for the treatment of PCa. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00599-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Wen Cheng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Li-Xia Duan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.,The Fifth Department of Chemotherapy, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Hedi road 71, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pu Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jia-le Feng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Guan-Zheng Feng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. .,The Fifth Department of Chemotherapy, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Hedi road 71, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
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Qingyihuaji formula reverses gemcitabine resistant human pancreatic cancer through regulate lncRNA AB209630/miR-373/EphB2-NANOG signals. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190610. [PMID: 31147453 PMCID: PMC6579980 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the possible mechanism of Qingyihuaji formula (QYHJ) for reversing gemcitabine (GEM) resistant human pancreatic cancer. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected in CFPAC-1 cells. Xenograft mice established with CFPAC-1 through subcutaneous on 33 immunodeficient nude mice and randomly divided into four groups: vehicle, GEM (35 mg/kg), QYHJ (40 g/kg), and GEM + QYHJ (35 mg/kg + 40 g/kg) groups for 28-day treatment. Tumor growth and the mRNA expression of lncRNA AB209630, miR373, EphB2, and NANOG evaluated in dissected tumor tissue by real-time PCR, the CD133+ cancer stem cells were isolated by flow cytometer, and the changes of the tumor sphere forming were measured. QYHJ, especially the combination of GEM and QYHJ, was significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and migration of CFPAC-1 in vitro in the indicated times. The combination of GEM and QYHJ also remarkably promoted the cell apoptosis of CFPAC-1. QYHJ treatment effectively blocked the tumor growth in nude mice. QYHJ, especially GEM + QYHJ treatment, was significantly increased the mRNA expression of lncRNA AB209630, significantly decreased the mRNA levels of miR373, EphB2 and NANOG, and markedly reduced the tumor sphere formation and the numbers of CD133+ stem cells. In addition, GEM alone treatment had no significant effect in the above biomarker changes. QYHJ could effectivly enhance the antihuman pancreatic tumor activity of GEM, which may be through inhibiting pancreatic cancer stem cell differentiation by lncRNA AB209630/miR-373/EphB2-NANOG signaling pathway.
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Song HY, Wang Y, Lan H, Zhang YX. Expression of Notch receptors and their ligands in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:53-60. [PMID: 29896227 PMCID: PMC5995048 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in developed countries. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for ~90% of all pancreatic cancer cases. The Notch signaling pathway serves a crucial role in embryonic development, as well as during the tumorigenesis of different types of cancer. However, Notch signaling serves either oncogenic or tumor suppressor roles depending on the tissue type. There are four Notch receptors (Notch1-4) and five ligands [Jagged1, Jagged2, δ-like ligand protein (DLL)1, DLL3 and DLL4]; therefore, it has been suggested that the different Notch receptors serve distinct roles in the same type of tissue. To determine whether this is the case, the present study measured the expression of all Notch receptors and their ligands in PDAC tissue samples and cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expression of Notch receptors and their ligands in paraffin-embedded PDAC tissue samples. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of Notch receptors in the pancreatic cancer cell lines human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (HPAC) and PANC-1. In addition, levels of Notch receptors and ligands in HPAC and PANC-1 cells were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results revealed that levels of Notch1 and Notch3 were increased in PDAC tissues, whereas levels of Notch2 and Notch3 were not. The expression of Notch receptors in the pancreatic cancer cell lines HPAC and PANC-1 was consistent with their expression in PDAC tissues. Additionally, levels of the ligands DLL1, DLL3 and DLL4 were increased in HPAC and PANC-1 cells, as well as PDAC tissue samples. However, the expression of Jagged1 and 2 remained low. These results indicate that Notch1, Notch3, DLL1, DLL3 and DLL4 are upregulated in PDAC, a positive correlation was observed between the expression of Notch1 and Notch3, and between Notch1 and the ligands DLL1, DLL3 and DLL4. whereas Notch2, Notch4, Jagged1 and Jagged2 are not. The interaction of Notch1 and Notch3 with Notch ligands DLL1, DLL3 and DLL4 may be important in maintaining the tumor phenotype of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yan Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, P.R. China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Hong Lan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Xiang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
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Different Survival Benefits of Chinese Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer: How to Choose? Chin J Integr Med 2017; 24:178-184. [PMID: 29063468 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2971-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) on patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) in a retrospective population-based study. METHODS Between January 1, 2013, and August 30, 2016, according to whether received Western medicine treatment, the patients were included into either integrative medicine (IM) group or CM group. All enrolled patients were orally administrated with Gexia Zhuyu Decoction () or Liujun Ermu Decoction () by syndrome differentiation, twice a day, last for at least 2 months. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). RESULTS A total of 174 patients with PC were enrolled in this study. In stage I/II, the median OS was 20.5 months in the IM group [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.499 to 28.501] and 11.17 months in the CM group (95% CI, 5.160 to 17.180, P=0.015). The 1- and 2-year survival rates for the two groups were 47.0%, 40.0% and 21.0%, 21.0%, respectively. In stage III/IV, median OS was 13.53 months (95% CI, 8.665 to 18.395) in the IM group versus 6.4 months (95% CI, 0.00 to 15.682) in the CM group, respectively (P=0.32). The 1- and 2-year survival rate for the IM and CM groups were 27.0%, 7.0% and 20.0%, 2.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Intervention of CM contributes to the different survival benefits for PC in different stages. Multimodality treatment might be a promising strategy for PC patients in early stage. While, in advanced stage, CM might be an alternative candidate for PC patients.
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Chen X, Yuan LQ, Li LJ, Lv Y, Chen PF, Pan L. Suppression of gastric cancer by extract from the tuber of amorphophallus konjac via induction of apoptosis and autophagy. Oncol Rep 2017; 38:1051-1058. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Song LB, Gao S, Zhang AQ, Qian X, Liu LM. Babaodan Capsule (八宝丹胶囊) combined with Qingyi Huaji Formula (清胰化积方) in advanced pancreatic cancer—a feasibility study. Chin J Integr Med 2017; 23:937-942. [DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2279-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Natural Products as Adjunctive Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:8412508. [PMID: 28232946 PMCID: PMC5292383 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8412508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a type of common malignant tumors with high occurrence in the world. Most patients presented in clinic had pancreatic cancer at advanced stages. Furthermore, chemotherapy or radiotherapy had very limited success in treating pancreatic cancer. Complementary and alternative medicines, such as natural products/herbal medicines, represent exciting adjunctive therapies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of using natural products/herbal medicines, such as Chinese herbal medicine, in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents to treat pancreatic cancer in preclinical and clinical trials.
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