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Integration of phytochemicals and phytotherapy into cancer precision medicine
Thomas Efferth1, Mohamed E M Saeed1, Elhaj Mirghani2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Abstract:
Concepts of individualized therapy in the 1970s and 1980s attempted to develop predictive in vitro tests for individual drug responsiveness without reaching clinical routine. Precision medicine attempts to device novel individual cancer therapy strategies. Using bioinformatics, relevant knowledge is extracted from huge data amounts. However, tumor heterogeneity challenges chemotherapy due to genetically and phenotypically different cell subpopulations, which may lead to refractory tumors. Natural products always served as vital resources for cancer therapy (e.g., Vinca alkaloids, camptothecin, paclitaxel, etc.) and are also sources for novel drugs. Targeted drugs developed to specifically address tumor-related proteins represent the basis of precision medicine. Natural products from plants represent excellent resource for targeted therapies. Phytochemicals and herbal mixtures act multi-specifically, i.e. they attack multiple targets at the same time. Network pharmacology facilitates the identification of the complexity of pharmacogenomic networks and new signaling networks that are distorted in tumors. In the present review, we give a conceptual overview, how the problem of drug resistance may be approached by integrating phytochemicals and phytotherapy into academic western medicine. Modern technology platforms (e.g. "-omics" technologies, DNA/RNA sequencing, and network pharmacology) can be applied for diverse treatment modalities such as cytotoxic and targeted chemotherapy as well as phytochemicals and phytotherapy. Thereby, these technologies represent an integrative momentum to merge the best of two worlds: clinical oncology and traditional medicine. In conclusion, the integration of phytochemicals and phytotherapy into cancer precision medicine represents a valuable asset to chemically synthesized chemicals and therapeutic antibodies.
Insights
Precision medicine integrates natural products and phytotherapy to overcome cancer drug resistance. This approach utilizes advanced "-omics" technologies and network pharmacology for more effective, multi-targeted cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Individualized cancer therapy concepts from the 1970s-1980s aimed for predictive drug response tests but did not achieve clinical routine.
- Precision medicine seeks novel individual cancer therapy strategies by extracting knowledge from large datasets using bioinformatics.
- Tumor heterogeneity, characterized by diverse cell subpopulations, presents a significant challenge to chemotherapy, often resulting in drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a conceptual overview of integrating phytochemicals and phytotherapy into academic Western medicine to address drug resistance.
- To explore how modern technology platforms can be applied to diverse cancer treatment modalities.
- To highlight the potential of merging traditional medicine with clinical oncology for improved cancer care.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging bioinformatics for knowledge extraction from large datasets.
- Utilizing network pharmacology to identify complex pharmacogenomic and signaling networks in tumors.
- Applying modern technology platforms such as "-omics" technologies and DNA/RNA sequencing.
Main Results:
- Natural products, including phytochemicals and herbal mixtures, offer multi-specific therapeutic actions, targeting multiple pathways simultaneously.
- Phytochemicals derived from plants are valuable resources for developing targeted therapies.
- Network pharmacology aids in understanding and navigating complex biological networks relevant to cancer.
Conclusions:
- Integrating phytochemicals and phytotherapy into cancer precision medicine offers a valuable complement to chemically synthesized drugs and therapeutic antibodies.
- Modern technologies enable the integration of cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted chemotherapy, phytochemicals, and phytotherapy.
- This integrative approach merges clinical oncology with traditional medicine, enhancing cancer treatment strategies.
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