Antitumor Agents from Natural Sources 2024

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Bio-derived Molecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 2098

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
Interests: novel therapeutic antibodies development; venom-based peptide & natural biomolecule prototype drugs development; cancer biomarkers & immunotherapy markers discovery for prognostic and therapeutic validation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

This Special Issue aims to highlight the pleiotropic mechanism(s) underlying the processes of cancer initiation as well as progression and focus on the antitumor properties of agents derived from natural sources. Several small molecules isolated from plants, fruits, vegetables, spices, animal venoms/secretions, etc., have demonstrated significant efficacy against various malignancies. These agents can suppress different characteristic hallmarks of cancer cells and have been investigated in various preclinical as well as clinical studies. This Special Issue will highlight the potential role of such important natural agents in both cancer prevention and therapy.

Dr. Hang Fai (Henry) Kwok
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • antitumor agents
  • natural sources
  • cancer prevention and therapy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4544 KiB  
Article
Iberverin Downregulates GPX4 and SLC7A11 to Induce Ferroptotic Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
by Haoying Yang, Bolei Dai, Liangjie Chen, Yingping Li, Xiaorui Jin, Chengchang Gao, Linfen Han and Xueli Bian
Biomolecules 2024, 14(11), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14111407 - 5 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Ferroptosis, a recently elucidated style of regulated cell death, has emerged as a significant area of investigation in cancer biology. Natural active compounds that have anti-cancer effects are promising candidates for cancer prevention. Iberverin, a natural compound derived from Brassica oleracea var. capitata [...] Read more.
Ferroptosis, a recently elucidated style of regulated cell death, has emerged as a significant area of investigation in cancer biology. Natural active compounds that have anti-cancer effects are promising candidates for cancer prevention. Iberverin, a natural compound derived from Brassica oleracea var. capitata, has been shown to exert anti-tumor activities in some cancers. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we proved that iberverin can induce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to inhibit cell proliferation and initiate ferroptotic cell death in HCC cells, which can be eradicated by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) or deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) and ROS scavenger (GSH or NAC). Mechanistically, iberverin treatment can simultaneously downregulate SLC7A11 mRNA level and degrade GPX4 through the ubiquitination pathway, leading to lipid peroxidation and ferroptotic cell death in HCC cells. Significantly, a low dose of iberverin can remarkably increase the sensitivity of HCC cells to ferroptosis induced by canonical ferroptosis inducers RSL3 and imidazole ketone erastin (IKE). This study uncovers a critical function of iberverin in preventing HCC through ferroptosis and provides a promising strategy for HCC treatment either via iberverin alone or in combination with canonical ferroptosis inducers in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antitumor Agents from Natural Sources 2024)
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Review

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23 pages, 1998 KiB  
Review
Astragalus membranaceus: A Traditional Chinese Medicine with Multifaceted Impacts on Breast Cancer Treatment
by Zhong Tang and Xuefei Tian
Biomolecules 2024, 14(10), 1339; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14101339 - 21 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignant tumor among women globally, remains a critical area of focus for researchers striving to refine therapeutic approaches. As an important component of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has demonstrated potential for multifaceted impacts on breast cancer treatment [...] Read more.
Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignant tumor among women globally, remains a critical area of focus for researchers striving to refine therapeutic approaches. As an important component of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has demonstrated potential for multifaceted impacts on breast cancer treatment through various mechanisms. To guide clinical practice and further explore the under-researched field of AM in breast cancer treatment, this paper mainly reviews the regulatory roles of AM-derived compounds and extracts on breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Furthermore, this study delves into the synergistic effects observed when AM is co-administered with chemotherapeutic agents, including the enhancement of chemosensitivity, mitigation of toxic side effects, and reversal of drug resistance. This review indicates that AM holds promise not only as a therapy in breast cancer treatment but also paves the way for innovative integrated treatment approaches that combine the benefits of traditional medicine with modern pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, future research endeavors are also urged to elucidate the in vivo pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of AM to inform more effective clinical treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antitumor Agents from Natural Sources 2024)
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