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An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
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Synergistic Anticancer Activities of Natural Substances in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Akiko Kojima-Yuasa1, Xuedan Huang2, Isao Matsui-Yuasa3

  • 1Department of Food and Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan. kojima@life.osaka-cu.ac.jp.

Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 26, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment is challenging due to drug resistance. Combining natural products with chemotherapy shows promise for synergistic anticancer effects, potentially improving outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits significant resistance to conventional chemotherapies, leading to poor clinical outcomes.
  • There is a critical need for novel, effective, and well-tolerated therapeutic strategies for HCC management.
  • Natural products represent a promising source for developing new anti-cancer drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the synergistic anticancer effects of combining natural products with chemotherapeutic agents or other natural products against human HCC.
  • To provide insights into the development of novel combination therapies for HCC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies investigating combination therapies for HCC.
  • Analysis of research demonstrating the synergistic effects of natural products in cancer treatment.
  • Examination of mechanisms, including the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in combination treatments.

Main Results:

  • Combination treatments involving natural products can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy against cancer cell proliferation.
  • Many natural product combinations augment intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, contributing to anti-cancer effects.
  • Synergistic effects observed in preclinical studies suggest improved therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Combined natural product therapies offer a promising avenue for overcoming HCC chemoresistance.
  • Further research into these synergistic combinations can lead to the development of innovative HCC treatment strategies.
  • Natural product-based combination therapies may provide a more effective and potentially better-tolerated approach to HCC treatment.
Keywords:
chemotherapeutic agentscombination treatmenthepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)natural productsreactive oxygen species (ROS)synergistic anticancer effect

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