Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.7
3.0
Journals
CIMB
Special Issues
Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional...
cimb-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for CIMB Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional Drugs

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 5694

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Alok Bhushan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Département of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jefferson Collège of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
Interests: cancer chemotherapy; pharmacology; signal transduction; invasion; combination therapy; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is mounting evidence in the literature that bioactive natural compounds affect the progression of cancers, relating to molecular mechanisms as well as epidemiological studies. Natural compounds exhibit anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, proapoptotic, antiangiogenic, metabolic and antimetastatic activities. Bioactive natural compounds have also been known to affect the immune system. Since these bioactive natural compounds are sometimes included in diet, it is imperative that they have synergistic effects in patients undergoing therapeutic treatment. Investigations into these compounds will also help in recommending that patients avoid or add these natural products during therapy. Understanding these mechanisms and their implications for cancer is critical not only for the treatment but also the prevention of cancers. This Special Issue focuses on molecular, genetic, immunologic, metabolic and epidemiological investigations.

Prof. Dr. Alok Bhushan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural compounds
  • cancer
  • repurposing
  • combination
  • polychemotherapy
  • pharmaceuticals
  • nutraceuticals
  • molecular targets
  • metabolomics
  • immunotherapy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 947 KB  
Article
Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis and Biological Profiling of 1,3,5-Triazine Derivatives with Antiproliferative Activity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
by Natalia Bosak, Anna Karolina Drabczyk, Jolanta Jaśkowska, Martyna Stachowicz-Suhs, Beata Filip-Psurska, Anna Boguszewska-Czubara, Katarzyna Ewa Greber, Krzesimir Ciura and Damian Kułaga
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030319 - 17 Mar 2026
Viewed by 115
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes and is associated with limited therapeutic options, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment strategies. In this study, a library of seventeen 1,3,5-triazine derivatives potentially targeting TNBC was developed using [...] Read more.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes and is associated with limited therapeutic options, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment strategies. In this study, a library of seventeen 1,3,5-triazine derivatives potentially targeting TNBC was developed using an activity-based approach. Compounds were synthesized via an ultrasound-assisted protocol, providing an efficient and environmentally friendly methodology. The synthesized library was evaluated in vitro against the human TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, and Hs578T, as well as the non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line MCF10A. Compounds 9 and 17 exhibited the most promising antiproliferative activity against TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-468: IC50 = 36.62 µM for 9 and 38.29 µM for 17; MDA-MB-231: IC50 = 37.32 µM for 9 and 32.86 µM for 17; Hs578T: IC50 = 57.26 µM for 9 and 34.87 µM for 17), while maintaining acceptable selectivity toward non-cancerous cells. The lead compounds were further assessed in vivo using a Danio rerio model to evaluate general toxicity and cardiotoxicity. In addition, ADME parameters were predicted for all compounds using biomimetic chromatography. Overall, compounds 9 and 17 emerged as promising small-molecule candidates for TNBC treatment, requiring further toxicological evaluation in more human-relevant in vivo models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 3564 KB  
Article
Honokiol Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth: Involvement of Hsp27 as a Molecular Target
by Youngbin Kim, Hyeon Du Jang, Da Hyeon An, Hyun Seo Lee, Hong-Gyum Kim and Sun Eun Choi
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(11), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47110921 - 5 Nov 2025
Viewed by 938
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Honokiol (HK), a bioactive phenolic compound, exhibits significant anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of HK in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by focusing on its direct interaction with heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) as a molecular target, and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Honokiol (HK), a bioactive phenolic compound, exhibits significant anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of HK in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by focusing on its direct interaction with heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) as a molecular target, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. Methods: HK was isolated via silica/ODS chromatography. Anchorage-independent growth of CRC cells was quantified using a soft agar assay with increasing HK concentrations. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry, and cell viability by MTS assay. Hsp27 binding to HK was validated by pull-down assay with HK-conjugated Sepharose 4B beads. Hsp27 knockdown was performed using lentiviral shRNA in CRC cells. Molecular docking of HK-Hsp27 interaction employed Schrödinger Suite 2016. Protein expressions, including chaperone and apoptotic proteins, were evaluated by Western blotting. Results: HK dose-dependently suppressed anchorage-independent growth of CRC cells and induced G0/G1 arrest. It triggered apoptosis through cytochrome c release, PARP cleavage, and Bcl-2 downregulation. HK directly bound to the α-crystallin domain of Hsp27 at Asn102 and His103 residues, confirmed by computational molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Hsp27 knockdown in CRC cells dramatically reduced anchorage-independent growth. HK markedly decreased Hsp27 protein levels while having less effect on other heat shock proteins in CRC cells. Conclusions: HK exerts anti-cancer effects in CRC cells, associated with Hsp27 inhibition, resulting in suppressed cell growth and increased apoptosis. This interaction between HK and Hsp27 may support a mechanistic foundation supporting the potential utility of HK as a natural therapeutic agent for CRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 9250 KB  
Article
The Interventional Effects and Mechanisms of Lonidamine in Combination with Apigenin on Colorectal Cancer
by Yi Zhou, Jiahao Shi, Mengjie Zhang, Hua Yang and Jian Fei
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(10), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47100825 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1116
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent cancer globally and remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. The limited efficacy and toxicities of conventional therapies underscore the urgent need for novel treatments. Lonidamine (LND), a synthetic indazole-3-carboxylic acid derivative, possesses anticancer properties, [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent cancer globally and remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. The limited efficacy and toxicities of conventional therapies underscore the urgent need for novel treatments. Lonidamine (LND), a synthetic indazole-3-carboxylic acid derivative, possesses anticancer properties, yet its clinical use is limited by toxic side effects. Apigenin (AP), a naturally occurring flavonoid present in a variety of fruits and vegetables, has been observed to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy regimens while mitigating associated side effects. In this study, we explored the potential synergistic anticancer effects and mechanisms of combining LND with AP in colon cancer cell lines MC38 and CT26. The results showed that LND and AP in combination synergistically inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells. In vitro, the combination therapy inhibited cell migration, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and promoted apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2 and upregulating Bax expression. It disrupted glycolysis by reducing HK2 and GLUT1 expression, resulting in decreased glucose consumption and lactate production. Additionally, our findings suggested that the co-administration led to nucleotide depletion and disrupted NAD+ metabolism. The synergistic anticancer effect of LND combined with AP was also validated in MC38 tumor-bearing mice. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the combination of LND and AP may exert beneficial effects against CRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 1396 KB  
Review
An Analysis of Three Pistacia Species’ Phenolic Compounds and Their Potential Anticancer and Cytotoxic Activities on Cancer Cells—A Review
by Naser A. Alsharairi
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(6), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47060393 - 26 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3269
Abstract
The genus Pistacia from the Anacardiaceae family contains species of wild flowering plants. The only species that produces edible nuts large enough for commercial sale is P. vera L. (pistachio). Other species, such as P. terebinthus L., P. atlantica L., and P. khinjuk [...] Read more.
The genus Pistacia from the Anacardiaceae family contains species of wild flowering plants. The only species that produces edible nuts large enough for commercial sale is P. vera L. (pistachio). Other species, such as P. terebinthus L., P. atlantica L., and P. khinjuk, are used as pistachio rootstocks. Pistacia species include phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, essential oils, and tannins, which are responsible for a number of pharmacological properties. The species most commonly investigated for their anticancer and/or cytotoxic activities against cancer cells in experimental studies include P. lentiscus, P. atlantica subspecies, and P. chinensis subsp. integerrima. However, no review exists that evaluates the phenolic compounds of three other Pistacia species (P. vera L., P. terebinthus L., and P. khinjuk) and their anticancer and cytotoxic effects. Thus, this review aims to thoroughly assess the phenolic compounds that were isolated from these species and investigate any potential anticancer or cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. The findings show that pistacia species and their isolated phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and essential oils) from different plant parts have anticancer activity against lung, cervical, prostate, gastric, colon, liver, renal, skin, and breast cancer cells. Additionally, certain phenolic compounds from pistacia species have cytotoxic activity; however, the degree of toxicity may vary based on the dosage and duration of use. Further experiments are required to fully understand the possible mechanisms underlying the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of pistacia species and their phenolic compounds on cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer: Combining Natural Compounds and Conventional Drugs)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop