Caffeic Acid phenethyl ester inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human pancreatic cancer cells

Therapeutic efficacy of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in cancer therapy: An updated review

Nowadays, there is a lot of public and scientific interest in using phytochemicals to treat human ailments. Existing cancer medicines still run across obstacles, despite significant advancements in the field. For instance, chemotherapy may result in severe adverse effects, increased drug resistance, and treatment failure. Natural substances that are phytochemically derived provide innovative approaches as potent therapeutic molecules for the treatment of cancer. Bioactive natural compounds may enhance chemotherapy for cancer by increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to medicines. Propolis has been found to interfere with the viability of cancer cells, among other phytochemicals. Of all the components that make up propolis, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) (a flavonoid) has been the subject of the most research. It demonstrates a broad spectrum of therapeutic uses, including antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Studies conducted in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated that CAPE specifically targets genes involved in cell death, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. By altering specific signaling cascades, such as the NF-κB signaling pathway, CAPE can limit the proliferation of human cancer cells. This review highlights the research findings demonstrating the anticancer potential of CAPE with a focus on multitargeted molecular and biological implications in various cancer models.

Natural Small Molecules in Gastrointestinal Tract and Associated Cancers: Molecular Insights and Targeted Therapies

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Although surgery is the primary treatment, serious maladies that dissipate to other parts of the body may require chemotherapy. As there is no effective procedure to treat stomach cancer, natural small molecules are a current focus of research interest for the development of better therapeutics. Chemotherapy is usually used as a last resort for people with advanced stomach cancer. Anti-colon cancer chemotherapy has become increasingly effective due to drug resistance and sensitivity across a wide spectrum of drugs. Naturally-occurring substances have been widely acknowledged as an important project for discovering innovative medications, and many therapeutic pharmaceuticals are made from natural small molecules. Although the beneficial effects of natural products are as yet unknown, emerging data suggest that several natural small molecules could suppress the progression of stomach cancer. Therefore, the underlying mechanism of natural small molecules for pathways that are directly involved in the pathogenesis of cancerous diseases is reviewed in this article. Chemotherapy and molecularly-targeted drugs can provide hope to colon cancer patients. New discoveries could help in the fight against cancer, and future stomach cancer therapies will probably include molecularly formulated drugs.

Comparison of a Suggested Model of Fibrosis in Human Dermal Fibroblasts by Serum from Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Transforming Growth Factor β Induced in vitro Model

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease, featuring fibrosis in multiple organs. The serum from SSc patients contain inflammatory mediators, contributing to SSc pathogenesis and could be used to develop cell culture models. Here, we compared the fibrotic effects of serum samples from SSc patients with TGFβ1 on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). HDF cells were cultured in four different culture media supplementations; 10% SSc serum, 10% healthy human serum, 10% fetal bovine serum or 10% FBS supplemented with 10 ng/Ml human TGFβ. The collagen content in cell layers was measured by spectrophotometric Picro-Sirius red staining. The mRNA expression of α-SMA, COL I and III, TGFβ1, arginase and E-Cadherin genes were determined by real time RT-PCR. TGF-β1 levels in cell culture supernatants were measured using ELISA. Cell layer collagen content was significantly increased following TGF-β1 treatment, compared with FBS group and SSc serum treatment in comparison with healthy controls. Although not statistically significant, the mRNA expression of α-SMA, COLI and III, TGFβ1, and arginase increased upon TGF-β1 treatment in comparison with FBS group, and in SSc serum treatment group in comparison with healthy controls. E-Cadherin decreased following TGF-β1 treatment and SSc serum treatment in comparison with their counterparts. TGF-β1 levels increased in cell culture supernatants of HDF cells exposed to TGF-β1 and SSc serum. An in vitro model of SSc serum-induced fibrosis using human HDF cells was evaluated in comparison to the TGF-β1 fibrosis induced model and data suggested that it may be used in documenting the role of pro-fibrotic factors in serum or plasma from SSc patients.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) confers wild type p53 function in p53Y220C mutant: bioinformatics and experimental evidence

Mutations in the tumor suppressor protein p53 is a prevalent feature in majority of cancers resulting in inactivation of its activities related to control of cell cycle progression and proliferation. p53^Y220C is one of the common hotspot mutations that causes decrease in its thermodynamic stability. Some small molecules have been shown to bind to the mutated site and restore its wild type thermodynamics and tumor suppressor function. In this study, we have explored the potential of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE-a bioactive compound from propolis) to interact with p53^Y220C and restore its wild type p53 (p53^wt) transcription activation and tumor suppressor activities. We recruited computational methods, viz. molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to study the interaction of CAPE at the mutation crevice and found that it has potential to restore p53^wt function of the p53^Y220C mutant similar to a previously described restoration molecule PK7242. We provide cell-based experimental evidence to these predictions and suggest CAPE as a potential natural drug for treatment of p53^Y220C mutant harboring cancers.

Chinese Propolis Suppressed Pancreatic Cancer Panc-1 Cells Proliferation and Migration via Hippo-YAP Pathway

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant cancers with high mortality. Therefore, it is of great urgency to develop new agents that could improve the prognosis of Pancreatic cancer patients. Chinese propolis (CP), a flavonoid-rich beehive product, has been reported to have an anticancer effect. In this study, we applied CP to the human Pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 to verify its impact on tumor development. CP induced apoptosis in Panc-1 cells from 12.5 µg/mL in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of approximately 50 µg/mL. Apoptosis rate induced by CP was examined by Annexing FITC/PI assay. We found that 48 h treatment with 50 µg/mL CP resulted in 34.25 ± 3.81% apoptotic cells, as compared to 9.13 ± 1.76% in the control group. We further discovered that the Panc-1 cells tended to be arrested at G2/M phase after CP treatment, which is considered to contribute to the anti-proliferation effect of CP. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that CP suppressed Panc-1 cell migration by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Interestingly, the Hippo pathway was activated in Panc-1 cells after CP treatment, serving as a mechanism for the anti-pancreatic cancer effect of CP. These findings provide a possibility of beehive products as an alternative treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Targeting the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway-Can We Compare It to the Two Faces of the God Janus?

Muscle cachexia is one of the most critical unmet medical needs. Identifying the molecular background of cancer-induced muscle loss revealed a promising possibility of new therapeutic targets and new drug development. In this review, we will define the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein's role in the tumor formation process and summarize the role of STAT3 in skeletal muscle cachexia. Finally, we will discuss a vast therapeutic potential for the STAT3-inhibiting single-agent treatment innovation that, as the desired outcome, could block tumor growth and generally prevent muscle cachexia.

Pancreatic Cancer (PDAC): Introduction of Evidence-Based Complementary Measures into Integrative Clinical Management

The most common form of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which comprises some 85% of all cases. Currently, this is the fourth highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide and its incidence is rising steeply. Commonly applied clinical therapies offer limited chance of a lasting cure and the five-year survival rate is one of the lowest of the commonly occurring cancers. This review cultivates the hypothesis that the best management of PDAC would be possible by integrating 'western' clinical medicine with evidence-based complementary measures. Protecting the liver, where PDAC frequently first spreads, is also given some consideration. Overall, the complementary measures are divided into three groups: dietary factors, nutraceutical agents and lifestyle. In turn, dietary factors are considered as general conditioners, multi-factorial foodstuffs and specific compounds. The general conditioners are alkalinity, low-glycemic index and low-cholesterol. The multi-factorial foodstuffs comprise red meat, fish, fruit/vegetables, dairy, honey and coffee. The available evidence for the beneficial effects of the specific dietary and nutraceutical agents was considered at four levels (in order of prominence): clinical trials, meta-analyses, in vivo tests and in vitro studies. Thus, 9 specific agents were identified (6 dietary and 3 nutraceutical) as acceptable for integration with gemcitabine chemotherapy, the first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer. The specific dietary agents were the following: Vitamins A, C, D and E, genistein and curcumin. As nutraceutical compounds, propolis, triptolide and cannabidiol were accepted. The 9 complementary agents were sub-grouped into two with reference to the main 'hallmarks of cancer'. Lifestyle factors covered obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol and exercise. An integrative treatment regimen was devised for the management of PDAC patients. This involved combining first-line gemcitabine chemotherapy with the two sub-groups of complementary agents alternately in weekly cycles. The review concludes that integrated management currently offers the best patient outcome. Opportunities to be investigated in the future include emerging modalities, precision medicine, the nerve input to tumors and, importantly, clinical trials.

Novel Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester-Mortalin Antibody Nanoparticles Offer Enhanced Selective Cytotoxicity to Cancer Cells

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a key bioactive ingredient of honeybee propolis and is claimed to have anticancer activity. Since mortalin, a hsp70 chaperone, is enriched in a cancerous cell surface, we recruited a unique cell internalizing anti-mortalin antibody (MotAb) to generate mortalin-targeting CAPE nanoparticles (CAPE-MotAb). Biophysical and biomolecular analyses revealed enhanced anticancer activity of CAPE-MotAb both in in vitro and in vivo assays. We demonstrate that CAPE-MotAb cause a stronger dose-dependent growth arrest/apoptosis of cancer cells through the downregulation of Cyclin D1-CDK4, phospho-Rb, PARP-1, and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2. Concomitantly, a significant increase in the expression of p53, p21^WAF1, and caspase cleavage was obtained only in CAPE-MotAb treated cells. We also demonstrate that CAPE-MotAb caused a remarkably enhanced downregulation of proteins critically involved in cell migration. In vivo tumor growth assays for subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice also revealed a significantly enhanced suppression of tumor growth in the treated group suggesting that these novel CAPE-MotAb nanoparticles may serve as a potent anticancer nanomedicine.

Combination of Withaferin-A and CAPE Provides Superior Anticancer Potency: Bioinformatics and Experimental Evidence to Their Molecular Targets and Mechanism of Action

We have earlier reported anticancer activity in Withaferin A (Wi-A), a withanolide derived from Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active compound from New Zealand honeybee propolis. Whereas Wi-A was cytotoxic to both cancer and normal cells, CAPE has been shown to cause selective death of cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of Wi-A, CAPE, and their combination to ovarian and cervical cancer cells. Both Wi-A and CAPE were seen to activate tumor suppressor protein p53 by downregulation of mortalin and abrogation of its interactions with p53. Downregulation of mortalin translated to compromised mitochondria integrity and function that affected poly ADP-ribose polymerase1 (PARP1); a key regulator of DNA repair and protein-target for Olaparib, drugs clinically used for treatment of breast, ovarian and cervical cancers)-mediated DNA repair yielding growth arrest or apoptosis. Furthermore, we also compared the docking capability of Wi-A and CAPE to PARP1 and found that both of these could bind to the catalytic domain of PARP1, similar to Olaparib. We provide experimental evidences that (i) Wi-A and CAPE cause inactivation of PARP1-mediated DNA repair leading to accumulation of DNA damage and activation of apoptosis signaling by multiple ways, and (ii) a combination of Wi-A and CAPE offers selective toxicity and better potency to cancer cells.

Targeting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathways by small molecules and natural compounds as a therapeutic approach for breast cancer cells

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mTOR (PI3K/AkT/mTOR) pathway plays a pivotal role in the uncontrolled growth, migration and development of human breast cancer. The elevated expression of TGF-β1 increases the PI3K/AkT/mTOR activity in human breast cancer tissue and potentially motivates tumor metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. Here, we investigated whether treatment with PI3K/AkT/mTOR dual inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 alone or in combination with caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE) could prevent TGF-β1 effects on breast cancer cells. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were exposed to TGF-β1 for 14 days and then were treated with/without NVP-BEZ235 and/or CAPE. Cell viability, apoptosis, CXCR4 surface expression and mRNA levels of CXCR4 and TWIST-1 were analyzed in all treated groups. We found that treatment of human breast cancer cells with a combination of NVP-BEZ235 and CAPE increased induction of cellular death. Although flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that NVP-BEZ235 alone treatment reduced CXCR4 expression while increasing CXCR4 mRNA level; when NVP-BEZ235 was combined with CAPE, inhibition of CXCR4 surface expression and enhancement of CXCR4 mRNA expression was diminished. In addition, TWIST-1 mRNA expression was down regulated in samples treated with both NVP-BEZ235 and CAPE. These altogether signified that NVP-BEZ235 in combination with CAPE showed improved therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer cells by decreasing apoptotic resistance and reduction of CXCR4 and TWIST-1 expression at mRNA level could be one of mechanism of action.

Chemoprevention of gastrointestinal cancers by natural honey

Gastrointestinal cancers are the most common human cancers in both men and women worldwide. Several epidemiological and experimental studies suggest a relationship between gastrointestinal cancers risk and dietary factors. Natural honey has been widely used in traditional medicine for many centuries to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints. Honey contains various components that exhibit wide activities including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The anticancer effects of honey are mediated via diverse mechanisms, including inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of free radicals and modulation of inflammatory signalling pathways. The present review assesses the chemopreventive effects of natural honey and its components in the modulation of gastrointestinal cancers and its modes of action in the prevention of the development of gastrointestinal tumors. Honey can be an approach as a cancer-preventive strategy which merits further experimental and clinical research in the near future.