Shikonin in breast cancer treatment: a comprehensive review of molecular pathways and innovative strategies

OBJECTIVES

Breast cancer is a prevalent disease that has a substantial impact on women's mortality rates. Shikonin, a naphthoquinone derived from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has demonstrated substantial anticancer effects. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the latest research findings regarding the therapeutic efficacy of shikonin in the context of breast cancer treatment, with a specific emphasis on elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted on shikonin and breast cancer by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases.

KEY FINDINGS

Shikonin significantly reduces tumor cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in both in vivo and in vitro across all breast cancer subtypes. Additionally, when combined with other pharmaceutical agents, it exhibits synergistic effects. Shikonin stimulates immunogenic cell death, resulting in apoptosis and necroptosis. The induction of immunogenic cell death by shikonin enhances the immunogenicity of breast cancer cells, leading to its involvement in the development of dendritic cell-based tumor vaccines against breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Shikonin exhibits potent anti-breast cancer properties and shows significant potential for the advancement of immunotherapeutic approaches against breast cancer, as well as enhancing the efficacy of conventional treatment strategies.

Anticancer potential of cryptotanshinone on breast cancer treatment; A narrative review

Breast cancer has recently been known as the first lethal malignancy in women worldwide. Despite the existing treatments that have improved the patients’ prognosis, some types of breast cancer are serious challenges to treat. Therefore, efforts are underway to provide more efficient therapy. Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is a liposoluble diterpenoid derivation of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine called Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. It has been considered in the past decades due to its vast therapeutic properties, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrosis. Recently, studies have found that CPT showed a significant anti-breast cancer effect in vivo and in vitro through different physiological and immunological mechanisms. This study summarized the latest research findings on the antitumor effect of CPT in breast cancer. Further, the main molecular mechanisms based on breast cancer types and combination with other drugs were reviewed to provide essential evidence for future longitudinal research and its clinical application in breast cancer treatment.

Successful pregnancy in an end-stage renal disease woman on chronic hemodialysis

Successful conception in a female patient on hemodialysis (HD) is considered a high-risk pregnancy and associated with maternal and fetal complications. Thus, most such pregnancies lead to abortion or termination to preserve maternal health. Here, we report a successfully-delivered case of a 19th-week-diagnosed pregnancy in a 35-year-old mother with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We present the case of a 35-year-old female with ESRD, diagnosed 10 years ago secondary to glomerulonephritis. The patient underwent the deceased–donor renal transplantation once, which unfortunately was rejected. During the initial tests for second-time kidney transplantation, a human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (beta-hCG) positive with a level of 9953 mIU/mL was reported, suggesting the pregnancy. The transvaginal ultrasonography confirmed the pregnancy at an approximate gestational age of 19 weeks. As a result, the patient underwent four and half hours of intensive HD five times a week and continued until 36 weeks of pregnancy. At 36 weeks, the patient presented to Shariati hospital, Tehran, Iran, with low- back pain. Consequently, a cesarean section (C/S) was performed, and the baby boy was born with a nine of ten Apgar score. Although successful pregnancy is possible for women with ESRD, it requires special multidisciplinary care. Intensive HD and regular fetal monitoring have improved the pregnancy outcome in this population. However, the risk of severe complications is still for the health of the mother and her offspring.