Vitamin A Enhances Macrophages Activity Against B16-F10 Malignant Melanocytes: A New Player for Cancer Immunotherapy?

Nutritional and in vitro antioxidant activity analyses of formulated soymilk dessert

Soymilk (SM) is nutritionally nearly equal to milk from cows and is free of cholesterol, gluten, and lactose. This study's objective was to formulate a cholesterol-free soymilk dessert (SOD) and compare it's to commercial desserts (CODs). Results indicated that the CODs contain substantial amounts of cholesterol while SOD does not. Soymilk dessert has more protein, and vitamin E than CODs, but less fat and calcium. In addition, the result also highlighted that SOD has higher number of amino acids compared to CODs. The total antioxidant, flavonoids and phenolics content of SOD were significantly higher than CODs. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant activity of SOD and CODs by DPPH and ABTS methods revealed that the IC50 of SODs significantly (p < 0.001) lower than CODs, and lower IC50 indicated the higher free radical scavenging power of SODs than CODs. These findings indicated that this non-dairy SOD may provide beneficial protein, as well as minerals, and antioxidants to support the body's various physiological functions.

A Comprehensive Review of the Use of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Cancer Patients Receiving Anticancer Therapy

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The side effects of cancer treatment affect the quality of life. Cancer patients search for antioxidant dietary supplements and natural products during or after conventional cancer treatment for the alleviation of side effects, improvement of the benefits of treatment, and promotion of well-being. However, the efficacy and safety of these products remain controversial; moreover, previous data do not support the standardized use of those alternative treatments in clinics. The current study reviewed the manuscripts reporting the administration of antioxidants and natural products during cancer treatment and revised preclinical and clinical studies on various types of cancer. Most of the positive results were obtained from experimental animal models; however, human clinical studies are discouraging in this regard. Therefore, further precise and distinguishable studies are required regarding antioxidant dietary supplementation. Future studies are also needed to clarify dietary supplements' mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics in a suitable cancer patient population that will benefit the therapeutic regimens. Despite the popularity of dietary supplements, clinicians and patients should always consider their potential benefits and risks. Patients should discuss with their physician before taking any dietary antioxidant supplements or natural products.

Clinically feasible and prospective immunotherapeutic interventions in multidirectional comprehensive treatment of cancer

INTRODUCTION

The immune system is able to exert both tumor-destructive and tumor-protective functions. Immunotherapeutic technologies aim to enhance immune-based anti-tumor activity and (or) weaken tumor-protective immunity.

AREAS COVERED

Cancer vaccination, antibody (Ab)-mediated cytotoxicity, Ab-based checkpoint molecule inhibition, Ab-based immunostimulation, cytokine therapy, oncoviral therapy, drug-mediated immunostimulation, exovesicular therapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, neurohormonal immunorehabilitation, metabolic therapy, as well as adoptive cell immunotherapy, could be coherently used to synergize and amplify each other in achieving robust anti-cancer responses in cancer patients. Tumor-specific immunotherapy applied at early stages is capable of eliminating remaining tumor cells after surgery, thus preventing the development of minimal residual disease. Patients with advanced disease stages could benefit from combined immunotherapy, which would be aimed at providing tumor cell/mass dormancy. Traditional therapeutic anti-cancer interventions (chemoradiotherapy, hyperthermia, anti-hormonal therapy) could significantly enhance tumor sensitivity to anti-cancer immunotherapy. It is important that lower-dose (metronomic) chemotherapy regimens, which are well-tolerated by normal cells, could advance immune-mediated control over tumor growth.

EXPERT OPINION

We envisage that combined immunotherapy regimens in the context of traditional treatment could become the mainstream modality for treating cancers in all phases of the tumorigenesis. The effectiveness of the anti-cancer treatment could be monitored by the following blood parameters: C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.