Single-cell RNA-sequencing uncovers compound kushen injection synergistically improves the efficacy of chemotherapy by modulating the tumor environment of breast cancer

Effect of compound kushen injection on immune function in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy remain cornerstone treatments; however, they often lead to significant immune suppression and an increased risk of infection. Enhancing immune function in CRC patients is critical for improving clinical outcomes and prognosis.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) on immune function and its role in mitigating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects in patients with CRC.

Methods

We retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of CKI on immune function in patients with CRC from eight Chinese and English databases, up until 31 December 2024. The Cochrane Handbook was used to assess the quality of the included studies. For the meta-analysis, we utilized Review Manager 5.4.1 software. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were conducted using Stata 17.0 software.

Result

A total of 2,663 patients (1,550 males and 1,113 females) from 30 RCTs were included. Compared to conventional chemotherapy (CC), the combination of CKI with CC significantly enhanced immune function, increasing CD3+ levels (MD = 6.15, 95% CI: 4.78 to 7.53, p < 0.00001), CD4+ levels (MD = 8.05, 95% CI: 6.99 to 9.11, p < 0.00001), CD4+/CD8+ levels (MD = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.44, p < 0.00001), NK cell levels (MD = 3.60, 95% CI: 2.85 to 4.34, p < 0.00001), while reducing CD8+ levels (MD = -4.19, 95% CI: -5.11 to -3.27, p < 0.00001). CKI also improved the objective response rate (ORR, RR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.38 to 1.62, p < 0.00001) and disease control rate (DCR, RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.19, p < 0.00001), decreased CEA levels (MD = -1.79, 95% CI: -2.81 to -0.76, p = 0.0007) and CA199 levels (MD = -0.73, 95% CI: -1.35 to -0.12, p = 0.02), and reduced chemotherapy-induced adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting, hepatic dysfunction, myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and mouth ulcers.

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that the combination of CKI with CC may have beneficial effects on immune function, ORR, DCR, and chemotherapy-induced adverse reactions in CRC patients. However, given the variability in study quality and the absence of disease stage stratification, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, the lack of long-term follow-up data limits the understanding of CKI's impact on survival and quality of life. High-quality, large-scale RCTs with extended follow-up are needed to further assess the long-term efficacy, safety, and clinical applicability of CKI in CRC management.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=632516, identifier CRD42025632516.

Evaluation of the protective effect of Compound Kushen Injection against radiation‑induced lung injury in mice

Radiation‑induced lung injury (RILI) is a prevalent complication following thoracic radiation, and currently there is a lack of effective intervention options. The present study investigated the potential of Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), a botanical drug, to mitigate inflammatory responses in mice with RILI, along with its underlying mechanisms of action. C3H mice underwent total lung irradiation (TLI) and intraperitoneal injection of CKI (2, 4 or 8 ml/kg) once daily for 8 weeks. Pre‑radiation treatment with 4 or 8 ml/kg CKI starting 2 weeks before TLI or concurrent treatment of 8 ml/kg CKI with TLI led to a significantly longer overall survival compared with the TLI vehicle‑treated group. Micro‑computed tomography evaluations showed that concurrent treatment with 8 ml/kg CKI was associated with a significantly lower incidence of RILI. Histological evaluations revealed that concurrent CKI (4 and 8 ml/kg) treatment significantly reduced grades of lung inflammation. Following radiation at 72 h, TLI plus vehicle‑treated mice had significantly elevated serum IL6, IL17A, and transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β) levels compared with non‑irradiated normal mice. Conversely, mice that received TLI plus CKI displayed lower cytokine levels than those in the TLI plus vehicle‑treated mice. Immunohistochemistry staining showed a reduction of TGF‑β positive cells in the lung tissues of TLI mice after CKI treatment. The concurrent TLI CKI‑treated mice had a significantly reduced cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‑2) activity and COX‑2 metabolites compared with TLI vehicle‑treated mice. These data highlight that CKI substantially reduced radiation‑induced lung inflammation, mitigated RILI incidence, and prolonged overall survival.

Application of omics technologies in studies on antitumor effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered to be one of the most comprehensive and influential form of traditional medicine. It plays an important role in clinical treatment and adjuvant therapy for cancer. However, the complex composition of TCM presents challenges to the comprehensive and systematic understanding of its antitumor mechanisms, which hinders further development of TCM with antitumor effects. Omics technologies can immensely help in elucidating the mechanism of action of drugs. They utilize high-throughput sequencing and detection techniques to provide deeper insights into biological systems, revealing the intricate mechanisms through which TCM combats tumors. Multi-omics approaches can be used to elucidate the interrelationships among different omics layers by integrating data from various omics disciplines. By analyzing a large amount of data, these approaches further unravel the complex network of mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of TCM and explain the mutual regulations across different molecular levels. In this study, we presented a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in single-omics and multi-omics research focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of TCM. We discussed the significance of omics technologies in advancing research on the antitumor properties of TCM and also provided novel research perspectives and methodologies for further advancing this research field.

Polyphyllin I exerts anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity by targeting ZBTB16 to activate the PPARγ/RXRα signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Studies have reported that polyphyllin I (PPI) had effective anti-tumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the precise molecular mechanism of this action and the direct target remain unclear. The aim of this study was to discover the molecular targets and the exact mechanism of PPI in the treatment of HCC.

METHODS

Various HCC cells and Zebrafish xenotransplantation models were used to examine the efficacy of PPI against HCC. A proteome microarray, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, small molecule transfection, and molecular docking were conducted to confirm the direct binding targets of PPI. Transcriptome and Western blotting were then used to determine the exact responding mechanism. Finally, the anticancer effect and its precise mechanism, as well as the safety of PPI, were verified using a mouse tumor xenograft study.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that PPI had significant anticancer activity against HCC in both in vitro studies of two cells and the zebrafish model. Notably, PPI selectively enhanced the action of the Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 16 (ZBTB16) protein by directly binding to it. Furthermore, specific knockdown of ZBTB16 markedly attenuated PPI-dependent inhibition of HCC cell proliferation and migration caused by overexpression of the gene. The transcriptome and Western blotting also confirmed that the interaction between ZBTB16 and PPI also activated the PPARγ/RXRα pathway. Finally, the mouse experiments confirmed the efficacy and safety of PPI to treat HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that ZBTB16 is a promising drug target for HCC and that PPI as a potent ZBTB16 agonist has potential as a therapeutic agent against HCC by regulating the ZBTB16/PPARγ/RXRα signaling axis.