Search Results (28)

Whereas an exercise intervention effectively improves patients’ quality of life, little information is available about the contribution of each physical fitness component. This study aims to explore the association between physical fitness components and the quality-of-life domain in patients with cancer. Between September 2021 and August 2023, 160 patients with mixed cancer types visiting the Oncology Unit were selected on a consecutive basis according to selection criteria. They underwent a comprehensive baseline assessment including the six-minute walking test, the handgrip strength test, the isometric leg press test, the back scratch, sit and reach tests, their waist–hip ratio, and their body mass index. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and Core Questionnaire was used to measure the quality of life. The sample size was based on the use of regression models to study associations between clinical characteristics and fitness outcomes. All of the analyses were performed using the SPSS v.25 statistical package. Patients had a mean age of 58 years, 68% were female, 42% were affected by breast cancer, and all were receiving anticancer treatments. Higher functional capacity was associated with better global health status (p < 0.0001) and physical (p < 0.0001), role (p < 0.0001), emotional (p = 0.026), and social function (p = 0.016) and inversely linked with fatigue (p = 0.001). Lower-limb flexibility was significantly associated with all of the domains except for role and social functions. The waist–hip ratio was inversely associated with physical function (p < 0.0001) and positively related to fatigue (p = 0.037). Exercise programs aiming to improve the quality of life in cancer should be addressed to optimize these fitness components. Full article

Terpenoids are a large class of natural secondary plant metabolites which are highly diverse in structure, formed from isoprene units (C-5), associated with a wide range of biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, anticancer, antimetastatic, antiangiogenesis, and apoptosis induction, and are considered for potential application in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. In plants, terpenoids exert a variety of basic functions in growth and development. This review gives an overview, highlighting the current knowledge of terpenoids and recent advances in our understanding of the organization, regulation, and diversification of core and specialized terpenoid metabolic pathways and addressing the most important functions of volatile and non-volatile specialized terpenoid metabolites in plants. A comprehensive description of different aspects of plant-derived terpenoids as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, their biosynthetic pathway, the several biological properties attributed to these secondary metabolites associated with health-promoting effects, and their potential industrial applications in several fields will be provided, and emerging and green extraction methods will also be discussed. In addition, future research perspectives within this framework will be highlighted. Literature selection was carried out using the National Library of Medicine, PubMed, and international reference data for the period from 2010 to 2024 using the keyword “terpenoids”. A total of 177,633 published papers were found, of which 196 original and review papers were included in this review according to the criteria of their scientific reliability, their completeness, and their relevance to the theme considered. Full article

Checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (CHK1 and CHK2) are enzymes that are involved in the control of DNA damage. At the present time, these enzymes are some of the most important targets in the fight against cancer since their inhibition produces cytotoxic effects in carcinogenic cells. This paper proposes the use of spirostans (Sp), natural compounds, as possible inhibitors of the enzymes CHK1 and CHK2 from an in silico analysis of a database of 155 molecules (S5). Bioinformatics studies of molecular docking were able to discriminate between 13 possible CHK1 inhibitors, 13 CHK2 inhibitors and 1 dual inhibitor for both enzymes. The administration, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMETx) studies allowed a prediction of the distribution and metabolism of the potential inhibitors in the body, as well as determining the excretion routes and the appropriate administration route. The best inhibition candidates were discriminated by comparing the enzyme-substrate interactions from 2D diagrams and molecular docking. Specific inhibition candidates were obtained, in addition to studying the dual inhibitor candidate and observing their stability in dynamic molecular studies. In addition, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital—Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO-LUMO) interactions were analyzed to study the stability of interactions between the selected enzymes and spirostans resulting in the predominant gaps from HOMOCHKs to LUMOSp (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital of CHKs—Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital of spirostan). In brief, this study presents the selection inhibitors of CHK1 and CHK2 as a potential treatment for cancer using a combination of molecular docking and dynamics, ADMETx predictons, and HOMO-LUMO calculation for selection. Full article

The term “flavonoid” encompasses a group of plant compounds, predominantly flavonoids, present in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. These compounds deliver significant health benefits, including potent antioxidant properties that protect cells from free radicals, thereby mitigating aging and disease. We assessed study quality and bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle−Ottawa Scale. Inclusion criteria specified that the studies must examine a natural flavonoid from fruits, must involve animal or human trials, must be original studies, and must be English articles on the flavonoid’s health and cancer-prevention effects, excluding conference abstracts and single-case studies. We conducted a comprehensive search of major databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar, reviewing six clinical trials with total sample sizes of over 50 to 1500 participants. The results indicate that consuming flavonoid-rich fruits can aid in cancer prevention by targeting angiogenic and cancer-protective pathways. We specifically selected tomatoes, mulberries, Amazon grapes, apples, and citrus fruits due to their well-documented high levels of flavonoids and the robust clinical evidence supporting their physiological effects. In particular, citrus fruits contain additional beneficial phytochemicals that complement the action of flavonoids, enhancing their overall health effects. The anti-cancer mechanisms of flavonoids are not well-defined in the scientific literature, suggesting a gap that this study aims to address. Our study provides novel contributions by demonstrating how flavonoid supplementation induces anti-cancer effects through angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory actions, antioxidant-induced apoptosis, and modulation of pathways like PI3K/Akt and MAPK. These effects were particularly notable in the prevention and progression of breast, colon, liver, and lung cancers, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). By elucidating specific mechanisms and pathways, this study contributes to the understanding of flavonoids’ role in cancer prevention and underscores the potential for developing natural anti-cancer therapeutics through the inclusion of flavonoid-rich fruits in the diet. Future research should focus on randomized controlled trials assessing long-term effects of flavonoid supplementation in diverse populations, exploring optimal dosages, and understanding interactions with conventional cancer therapies to provide comprehensive evidence for clinical applications. Full article

Breast cancer is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening disease that affects women worldwide. Natural products have gained attention as potential anticancer agents due to their fewer side effects, low toxicity, and cost effectiveness compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs. In the current study, the network pharmacology approach was used following a molecular docking study to evaluate the therapeutic potential of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals against breast cancer. Specifically, the study aimed to identify potential anticancer agents targeting key proteins implicated in breast cancer progression. Five proteins (i.e., EGFR, MAPK3, ESR1, MAPK1, and PTGS2) associated with breast cancer were selected as receptor proteins. Fourteen phytochemicals from N. sativa were prioritized based on drug-likeness (DL) and oral bioavailability (OB) parameters (with criteria set at DL > 0.18 and OB > 30%, respectively). Subsequent analysis of gene targets identified 283 overlapping genes primarily related to breast cancer pathogenesis. Ten hub genes were identified through topological analysis based on their significance in the KEGG pathway and GO annotations. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities between folic acid, betulinic acid, stigmasterol, and selected receptor proteins. These phytochemicals also demonstrated druggability potential. In vitro experiments in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line revealed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol significantly reduced cell viability after 24 h of treatment, confirming their anticancer activity. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation using a DMBA-induced rat model showed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol contributed to the significant recovery of cancer markers. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the anticancer potential of N. sativa phytochemicals against breast cancer, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic candidates for future drug development. Overall, these results highlight betulinic acid and stigmasterol as promising candidates to develop novel anticancer agents against breast cancer. The comprehensive approach of this study, which integrates network pharmacology and molecular docking study and its experimental validation, strengthens the evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals in breast cancer treatment, making them promising candidates for the development of novel anticancer agents against breast cancer. Full article

Background: There are several significant gaps in current studies of the relationship between anti-cancer medications and orthodontic care that call for more investigation. As a result, the main goals of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to summarise and assess the information that was available regarding the effect of radiotherapy and anti-cancer medications on the overall successful completion of an orthodontic treatment plan. Methods: A standardised data extraction form was devised in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis, with specific criteria implemented for selecting studies with low to moderate risk of bias. Results: Five studies involving different methodologies were selected at the conclusion of the search strategy. The statistical analysis revealed an estimated odds ratio (OR) of 0.31 and relative risk (RR) of 0.48, indicating a statistically significant association between the use of radiotherapy and anti-neoplastic drugs and a noticeable reduction in the successful completion of orthodontic treatment. The heterogeneity analysis showed significant heterogeneity among the studies. Conclusions: This review emphasises that, although orthodontic therapies can still be beneficial for children receiving chemotherapy, the effectiveness of the therapy may be diminished in older populations. The findings further highlight how crucial it is to take cancer therapies into account when planning and managing orthodontic treatment in order to optimise results and reduce problems. Full article

Background: Micronutrients are vital for general and oral health, and their potential anti-cancer properties are documented. We explore beneficial vitamins for oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC), assessing the therapeutic impacts of essential vitamin supplementation. Methods: We systematically review evidence on vitamin supplementation’s therapeutic effects for OPMDs and OC. Relevant studies were identified through comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Web of Science until 16 May 2023. All studies underwent risk of bias using criteria modified from the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. Results: We analysed 80 papers. Vitamin K, studied in vitro, shows promising therapeutic potential. Vitamin C, investigated in vivo (animals and humans), demonstrated mixed animal results and generally positive human trial effects. Vitamin A’s efficacy varied, with positive monotherapy or adjunct effects. Vitamins B and D showed therapeutic benefits. Oral cancer research was extensive, with a focus on oral lichen planus and oral leukoplakia among the 11 OPMDs. All bias levels were reported in ‘selective reporting’ and ‘performance’, except for “definitely high” in the ‘selection’, ‘detection’, and ‘attrition/exclusion’ domains. Conclusions: Evidence of vitamin interventions for OPMDs and OC ranges from mixed to promising. Standardizing the study design and outcomes would enhance future research. Full article

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent malignancy in men worldwide and the fifth leading cause of death by cancer. Although most patients initially benefit from therapy, many of them will progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, which still remains incurable. The significant mortality and morbidity rate associated with the progression of the disease results mainly from a lack of specific and sensitive prostate cancer screening systems, identification of the disease at mature stages, and failure of anticancer therapy. To overcome the limitations of conventional imaging and therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer, various types of nanoparticles have been designed and synthesized to selectively target prostate cancer cells without causing toxic side effects to healthy organs. The purpose of this review is to briefly discuss the selection criteria of suitable nanoparticles, ligands, radionuclides, and radiolabelling strategies for the development of nanoparticle-based radioconjugates for targeted imaging and therapy of prostate cancer and to evaluate progress in the field, focusing attention on their design, specificity, and potential for detection and/or therapy. Full article

Background: Tocotrienol, a type of vitamin E, is well known for its anti-cancer and other biological activities. This systematic review aims to summarize the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and subsequent unfolded protein response (UPR) as the underlying molecular mechanisms for the anticancer properties of tocotrienol. Method: A comprehensive literature search was performed in March 2023 using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. In vitro, in vivo, and human studies were considered. Result: A total of 840 articles were retrieved during the initial search, and 11 articles that fit the selection criteria were included for qualitative analysis. The current mechanistic findings are based solely on in vitro studies. Tocotrienol induces cancer cell growth arrest, autophagy, and cell death primarily through apoptosis but also through paraptosis-like cell death. Tocotrienol-rich fractions, including α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols, induce ERS, as evidenced by upregulation of UPR markers and/or ERS-related apoptosis markers. Early endoplasmic reticulum calcium ion release, increased ceramide level, proteasomal inhibition, and upregulation of microRNA-190b were suggested to be essential in modulating tocotrienol-mediated ERS/UPR transduction. Nevertheless, the upstream molecular mechanism of tocotrienol-induced ERS is largely unknown. Conclusion: ERS and UPR are essential in modulating tocotrienol-mediated anti-cancer effects. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the upstream molecular mechanism of tocotrienol-mediated ERS. Full article

Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2), is attracting considerable interest owing to its potential anticancer activity. The repurposing strategy of this drug, however, requires preclinical assessment involving the use of increasingly improved analytical methods. In this work, a rapid, accurate, precise, and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the quantification of celecoxib in five mouse matrices (plasma, brain, spleen, liver, and kidney). Chromatographic separation was achieved within 8 min on a reversed-phase C18 column at 35 °C using a mixture of acetonitrile and 2% (v/v) acetic acid (50:50) as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Celecoxib and curcumin, as the internal standard, were analyzed at 425 nm and 250 nm, respectively. Linearity was observed (r² ≥ 0.996) in the concentration ranges selected for celecoxib. Overall precision was below 14.9%, and accuracy was between −14.9% and 13.2%. The acceptance criteria specified in FDA and EMA guidelines were met. Celecoxib was reproducibly recovered (≥84%) and showed stability in all biological matrices at room temperature for 24 h. The method was then effectively applied for the quantification of celecoxib to understand in vivo biodistribution following its intraperitoneal administration in mice. Full article

Ovarian cancer survival in the UK lags behind comparable countries. Results from the ongoing National Ovarian Cancer Audit feasibility pilot (OCAFP) show that approximately 1 in 4 women with advanced ovarian cancer (Stage 2, 3, 4 and unstaged cancer) do not receive any anticancer treatment and only 51% in England receive international standard of care treatment, i.e., the combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The audit has also demonstrated wide variation in the percentage of women receiving anticancer treatment for advanced ovarian cancer, be it surgery or chemotherapy across the 19 geographical regions for organisation of cancer delivery (Cancer Alliances). Receipt of treatment also correlates with survival: 5 year Cancer survival varies from 28.6% to 49.6% across England. Here, we take a systems wide approach encompassing both diagnostic pathways and cancer treatment, derived from the whole cohort of women with ovarian cancer to set out recommendations and quality performance indicators (QPI). A multidisciplinary panel established by the British Gynaecological Cancer Society carefully identified QPI against criteria: metrics selected were those easily evaluable nationally using routinely available data and where there was a clear evidence base to support interventions. These QPI will be valuable to other taxpayer funded systems with national data collection mechanisms and are to our knowledge the only population level data derived standards in ovarian cancer. We also identify interventions for Best practice and Research recommendations. Full article

Computational chemistry, molecular docking, and drug design approaches, combined with the biochemical evaluation of the antitumor activity of selected derivatives of the thiouracil-based dihydroindeno pyrido pyrimidines against topoisomerase I and II. The IC50 of other cell lines including the normal human lung cell line W138, lung cancer cell line, A549, breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, cervical cancer, HeLa, and liver cancer cell line HepG2 was evaluated using biochemical methods. The global reactivity descriptors and physicochemical parameters were computed, showing good agreement with the Lipinski and Veber’s rules of the drug criteria. The molecular docking study of the ligands with the topoisomerase protein provides the binding sites, binding energies, and deactivation constant for the inhibition pocket. Various biochemical methods were used to evaluate the IC50 of the cell lines. The QSAR model was developed for colorectal cell line HCT as a case study. Four QSAR statistical models were predicted between the IC50 of the colorectal cell line HCT to correlate the anticancer activity and the computed physicochemical and quantum chemical global reactivity descriptors. The predictive power of the models indicates a good correlation between the observed and the predicted activity. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly lethal form of adult malignant gliomas with little clinical advancement, raises the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Lipid-soluble vitamins have gained attention in malignant brain tumors owing to their pleiotropic properties and their anti-cancer potential have been reported in a number of human GBM cell lines. The aim of this paper is to systematically review and describe the roles of various biomarkers regulated by lipid-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, in the pathophysiology of GBM. Briefly, research articles published between 2005 and 2021 were systematically searched and selected from five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE via Ovid, and Web of Science) based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. In addition, a number of hand-searched research articles identified from Google Scholar were also included for the analysis. A total of 40 differentially expressed biomarkers were identified from the 19 eligible studies. The results from the analysis suggest that retinoids activate cell differentiation and suppress the biomarkers responsible for stemness in human GBM cells. Vitamin D appears to preferentially modulate several cell cycle biomarkers, while vitamin E derivatives seem to predominantly modulate biomarkers related to apoptosis. However, vitamin K1 did not appear to induce any significant changes to the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling or apoptotic pathways in human GBM cell lines. From the systematic analysis, 12 biomarkers were identified that may be of interest for further studies, as these were modulated by one or two of these lipid-soluble vitamins. Full article

While the survival rate has increased due to treatments for breast cancer, the quality of life has decreased because of the side effects of chemotherapy. Various toxins are being developed as alternative breast cancer treatments, and bee venom is drawing attention as one of them. We analyzed the effect of bee venom and its components on breast cancer cells and reviewed the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of bee venom. Data up to March 2022 were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, OASIS, KISS, and Science Direct online databases, and studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Among 612 studies, 11 were selected for this research. Diverse drugs were administered, including crude bee venom, melittin, phospholipase A2, and their complexes. All drugs reduced the number of breast cancer cells in proportion to the dose and time. The mechanisms of anticancer effects included cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell targeting, gene expression regulation, and cell lysis. Summarily, bee venom and its components exert anticancer effects on human breast cancer cells. Depending on the mechanisms of anticancer effects, side effects are expected to be reduced by using various vehicles. Bee venom and its components have the potential to prevent and treat breast cancer in the future. Full article

In the era of favoring environment-friendly approaches for pharmaceutical synthesis, “green synthesis” is expanding. Green-based nanomedicine (NM), being less toxic and if having biomedical acceptable activities, thence, the chemical methods of synthesis are to be replaced by plants for reductive synthesis. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) exhibited remarkable anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties, besides being a drug delivery tool. However, owing to limitations related to the chemical synthetic method, plant-mediated green synthesis has been recognized as a promising alternative synthetic method. This systematic review (SR) is addressing plant-based IONPs green synthesis, characteristics, and toxicity studies as well as their potential biomedical applications. Furthermore, the plant-based green-synthesized IONPs in comparison to nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via other conventional methods, characteristics, and efficacy or toxicity profiles would be mentioned (if available). Search strategy design utilized electronic databases including Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar search. Selection criteria included recent clinical studies, available in the English language, published till PROSPERO registration. After screening articles obtained by first electronic database search, by title, abstract and applying the PICO criteria, the search results yielded a total of 453 articles. After further full text filtrations only 48 articles were included. In conclusion, the current SR emphasizes the perspective of the IONPs plant-mediated green synthesis advantage(s) when utilized in the biomedical pharmaceutical field, with less toxicity. Full article