1
|
Li H, Li J, Zhang Y, Zhao C, Ge J, Sun Y, Fu H, Li Y. The therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine on breast cancer through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1401979. [PMID: 38783943 PMCID: PMC11111876 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1401979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignant tumor among women globally, is significantly influenced by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in its initiation and progression. While conventional chemotherapy, the standard clinical treatment, suffers from significant drawbacks like severe side effects, high toxicity, and limited prognostic efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a promising alternative. TCM employs a multi-targeted therapeutic approach, which results in fewer side effects and offers a high potential for effective treatment. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the therapeutic impacts of TCM on various subtypes of breast cancer, focusing on its interaction with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, it explores the effectiveness of both monomeric and compound forms of TCM in the management of breast cancer. We also discuss the potential of establishing biomarkers for breast cancer treatment based on key proteins within the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our aim is to offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and to contribute to the standardization of TCM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongkun Li
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhao
- Experimental Teaching and Practical Training Center, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Jun Ge
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yujiao Sun
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Fu
- College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingpeng Li
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin HH, Wu YS, Jian TY, Liao JY, Chang MT, Shyur LF, Lin YL. Phytogalactolipids activate humoral immunity against colorectal cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:95. [PMID: 37081540 PMCID: PMC10120243 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02660-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most lethal cancer in the world, and its incidence is steadily rising. In this study, we investigated the induction of humoral immunity by a phytogalactolipid enriched fraction (CRA) derived from the medicinal plant Crassocephalum rabens (Benth.) S. Moore to combat CRC. METHODS Immunocompetent BALB/c mice were used to evaluate CRA's therapeutic effects in CRC. The phenotypes of B cell subsets in splenocytes and tumors from the CRA-treated mice were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. The titers, isotypes, specificity, antigen recognition, and cytotoxic activity of CRA-induced anti-tumor antibodies were determined. The mechanisms of CRA on B cell differentiation were determined by cell-based analyses, including co-cultural with T cells, cytokine analysis, gene expression by qPCR, and protein expression by western blotting. RESULTS CRA efficiently inhibited tumor growth in colorectal tumor-bearing allograft mice. CRA treatment attracted an abundance of B cells into the tumor consequently enhancing the anti-tumor antibodies in sera and inducing a class-switch. CRA-induced antisera (designated CRA antisera) specifically recognized surface antigens on the plasma membrane of cancer cells. CRA antisera induced cytotoxicity including antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. CRA interacted with IL-6 receptor to activate STAT3 and cMaf, resulting in T cell secretion of IL-21, which, in turn induced B cell differentiation through the IL-21R/STAT3/Blimp-1 pathway. CONCLUSIONS CRA regulated T cell activity resulting in B cell activation and triggering of anti-tumor antibodies to impede CRC progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Huei Lin
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shin Wu
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yan Jian
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yun Liao
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Ting Chang
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Lie-Fen Shyur
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
- Program in Translational Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
- Institute of BioPharmaceutical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Ling Lin
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang R, Han Y, Yi W, Long Q. Autoantibodies as biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1035402. [PMID: 36451832 PMCID: PMC9701846 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1035402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and is a substantial public health problem. Screening for breast cancer mainly relies on mammography, which leads to false positives and missed diagnoses and is especially non-sensitive for patients with small tumors and dense breasts. The prognosis of breast cancer is mainly classified by tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging, but this method does not consider the molecular characteristics of the tumor. As the product of the immune response to tumor-associated antigens, autoantibodies can be detected in peripheral blood and can be used as noninvasive, presymptomatic, and low-cost biomarkers. Therefore, autoantibodies can provide a possible supplementary method for breast cancer screening and prognosis classification. This article introduces the methods used to detect peripheral blood autoantibodies and the research progress in the screening and prognosis of breast cancer made in recent years to provide a potential direction for the examination and treatment of breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Qian Long
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Afzal S, Hassan M, Ullah S, Abbas H, Tawakkal F, Khan MA. Breast Cancer; Discovery of Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers, Drug Resistance, and Therapeutic Implications. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:783450. [PMID: 35265667 PMCID: PMC8899313 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.783450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most reported cancer in women with high mortality causing millions of cancer-related deaths annually. Early detection of breast cancer intensifies the struggle towards discovering, developing, and optimizing diagnostic biomarkers that can improve its prognosis and therapeutic outcomes. Breast cancer-associated biomarkers comprise macromolecules, such as nucleic acid (DNA/RNA), proteins, and intact cells. Advancements in molecular technologies have identified all types of biomarkers that are exclusively studied for diagnostic, prognostic, drug resistance, and therapeutic implications. Identifying biomarkers may solve the problem of drug resistance which is a challenging obstacle in breast cancer treatment. Dysregulation of non-coding RNAs including circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) initiates and progresses breast cancer. The circulating multiple miRNA profiles promise better diagnostic and prognostic performance and sensitivity than individual miRNAs. The high stability and existence of circRNAs in body fluids make them a promising new diagnostic biomarker. Many therapeutic-based novels targeting agents have been identified, including ESR1 mutation (DNA mutations), Oligonucleotide analogs and antagonists (miRNA), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in BRCA mutations, CDK4/6 (cell cycle regulating factor initiates tumor progression), Androgen receptor (a steroid hormone receptor), that have entered clinical validation procedure. In this review, we summarize the role of novel breast cancer diagnostic biomarkers, drug resistance, and therapeutic implications for breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samia Afzal
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Samia Afzal,
| | - Muhammad Hassan
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Safi Ullah
- Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Hazrat Abbas
- Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Farah Tawakkal
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Ahmad Khan
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Berry A, Collacchi B, Capoccia S, D'Urso MT, Cecchetti S, Raggi C, Sestili P, Aricò E, Pontecorvi G, Puglisi R, Ortona E, Cirulli F. Chronic Isolation Stress Affects Central Neuroendocrine Signaling Leading to a Metabolically Active Microenvironment in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:660738. [PMID: 34305544 PMCID: PMC8298821 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.660738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Social isolation is a powerful stressor capable of affecting brain plasticity and function. In the case of breast cancer, previous data indicate that stressful experiences may contribute to a worse prognosis, activating neuroendocrine and metabolism pathways, although the mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic isolation stress (IS) may boost hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, leading to changes in the hypothalamic expression of genes modulating both mood and metabolism in an animal model of breast cancer. This centrally activated signaling cascade would, in turn, affect the mammary gland microenvironment specifically targeting fat metabolism, leading to accelerated tumor onset. MMTVNeuTg female mice (a model of breast cancer developing mammary hyperplasia at 5 months of age) were either group-housed (GH) or subjected to IS from weaning until 5 months of age. At this time, half of these subjects underwent acute restraint stress to assess corticosterone (CORT) levels, while the remaining subjects were characterized for their emotional profile in the forced swimming and saccharin preference tests. At the end of the procedures, all the mice were sacrificed to assess hypothalamic expression levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), Neuropeptide Y (NpY), Agouti-Related Peptide (AgRP), and Serum/Glucocorticoid-Regulated Protein Kinase 1 (SgK1). Leptin and adiponectin expression levels, as well as the presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT), were assessed in mammary fat pads. The IS mice showed higher CORT levels following acute stress and decreased expression of NpY, AgRP, and SgK1, associated with greater behavioral despair in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, they were characterized by increased consumption of saccharin in a preference test, suggesting an enhanced hedonic profile. The IS mice also showed an earlier onset of breast lumps (assessed by palpation) accompanied by elevated levels of adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) and BAT in the mammary fat pads. Overall, these data point to IS as a pervasive stressor that is able to specifically target neuronal circuits, mastered by the hypothalamus, modulating mood, stress reactivity and energy homeostasis. The activation of such IS-driven machinery may hold main implications for the onset and maintenance of pro-tumorigenic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Berry
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Collacchi
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Capoccia
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa D'Urso
- Animal Research and Welfare Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Cecchetti
- Microscopy Area, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Raggi
- National Centre for the Control and the Evaluation of Medicines, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sestili
- National Centre for the Control and the Evaluation of Medicines, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Pontecorvi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Puglisi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Ortona
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu HJ, Chu PY. Recent Discoveries of Macromolecule- and Cell-Based Biomarkers and Therapeutic Implications in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020636. [PMID: 33435254 PMCID: PMC7827149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Breast cancer is fairly heterogeneous and reveals six molecular subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, HER2+, basal-like subtype (ER−, PR−, and HER2−), normal breast-like, and claudin-low. Breast cancer screening and early diagnosis play critical roles in improving therapeutic outcomes and prognosis. Mammography is currently the main commercially available detection method for breast cancer; however, it has numerous limitations. Therefore, reliable noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are required. Biomarkers used in cancer range from macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, to whole cells. Biomarkers for cancer risk, diagnosis, proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and prognosis have been identified in breast cancer. In addition, there is currently a greater demand for personalized or precise treatments; moreover, the identification of novel biomarkers to further the development of new drugs is urgently needed. In this review, we summarize and focus on the recent discoveries of promising macromolecules and cell-based biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer and provide implications for therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Ju Wu
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua 500, Taiwan;
- Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang Town, Changhua County 505, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yi Chu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, No. 542, Sec. 1 Chung-Shan Rd., Changhua 500, Taiwan
- Department of Health Food, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Changhua 510, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-975-611-855; Fax: +886-4-7227-116
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pathological Maintenance and Evolution of Breast Cancer: The Convergence of Irreversible Biological Actions of ER Alpha. ENDOCRINES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/endocrines2010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a modulator of breast cancer maintenance and evolution. Hence, analysis of underlying mechanisms by which ERα operates is of importance for the improvement of the hormonal therapy of the disease. This review focuses on the irreversible character of the mechanism of action of ERα, which also concerns other members of the steroid hormones receptors family. ERα moves in permanence between targets localized especially at the chromatin level to accomplish gene transcriptions imposed by the estrogenic ligands and specific antagonists. Receptor association as at the plasma membrane, where it interacts with other recruitment sites, extends its regulatory potency to growth factors and related peptides through activation of signal transductions pathways. If the latter procedure is suitable for the transcriptions in which the receptor operates as a coregulator of another transcription factor, it is of marginal influence with regard to the direct estrogenic regulation procedure, especially in the context of the present review. Irreversibility of the successive steps of the underlying transcription cycle guarantees maintenance of homeostasis and evolution according to vital necessities. To justify this statement, reported data are essentially described in a holistic view rather than in the context of exhaustive analysis of a molecular event contributing to a specific function as well as in a complementary perspective to elaborate new therapeutic approaches with antagonistic potencies against those tumors promoting ERα properties.
Collapse
|
8
|
Pagano MT, Ortona E, Dupuis ML. A Role for Estrogen Receptor alpha36 in Cancer Progression. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:506. [PMID: 32849292 PMCID: PMC7411082 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor α (ERα) functions as a ligand dependent transcription factor that directly binds specific estrogen responsive elements, thus regulating the transcription of estrogen sensitive genes. ERα has also been shown to be associated with the plasma membrane (membrane associated ERα, mERα), concentrated in lipid rafts, plasma membrane microdomains with a distinct lipid composition, where it transduces membrane-initiated estrogen-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway. Two isoforms of ERα have been described: the "traditional" ERα66 (66 kDa) and a lower molecular weight variant: the ERα46 (46 kDa). More recently, a novel ERα variant with a molecular mass of 36 kDa (ERα36) has been discovered. Notably, ERα36 has been found expressed in different human tumor cells, including both ER- positive and ER- negative breast cancer cells. Estrogen signaling at the cell membrane via ERα36 appears as capable of activating multiple pathways of importance for cancer aggressiveness and metastatic potential. The presence of serum autoantibodies reacting with mERα (anti-ERα Abs) in a large percentage of patients with breast cancer has recently been reported by our group. These anti-ERα Abs seem to act as estrogen agonists rapidly triggering MAP kinase pathway activation thus inducing tumor cell proliferation and overcoming cell resistance to anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen. In this review, we describe the involvement of ERα36 in different tumors. We also report the potential pathogenetic activity of anti-ERα Abs and their implication in drug resistance.
Collapse
|