Two Worlds Colliding: The Interplay Between Natural Compounds and Non-Coding Transcripts in Cancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death, with chemotherapy as a primary treatment.
• Natural compounds are vital sources for chemotherapy drugs, but their mechanisms are often unclear.
• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulate gene expression and are implicated in cancer development and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how natural compounds affect cancer through modulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
• To summarize data on natural compounds' effects on over 15 cancer types via ncRNAs.
• To analyze current understanding, limitations, and future directions for natural compound-ncRNA interactions in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on natural compounds, ncRNAs, and cancer.
• Analysis of mechanisms by which natural compounds modulate ncRNA expression and function.
• Synthesis of data on therapeutic effects across various cancer types.

Main Results:

• Natural compounds can influence cancer progression and drug response by targeting ncRNAs.
• Evidence suggests diverse effects of natural compounds on ncRNAs across more than 15 cancer types.
• Current research highlights both progress and challenges in elucidating these interactions.

Conclusions:

• Natural compounds show potential as ncRNA modulators for cancer treatment.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and leverage natural compound-ncRNA interactions for improved cancer therapies.
• Hypotheses are proposed for future investigation into novel therapeutic strategies.