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A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Toad venom-derived bufadienolides and their therapeutic application in prostate cancers: Current status and future
Qingmei Ye1,2, Xin Zhou3, Fangxuan Han2
1Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Resource Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Plant Chemistry of Hainan Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
Abstract:
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Specially, the high incidence rate and prevalence of drug resistance have rendered prostate cancer (PCa) a great threat to men's health. Novel modalities with different structures or mechanisms are in urgent need to overcome these two challenges. Traditional Chinese medicine toad venom-derived agents (TVAs) have shown to possess versatile bioactivities in treating certain diseases including PCa. In this work, we attempted to have an overview of bufadienolides, the major bioactive components in TVAs, in the treatment of PCa in the past decade, including their derivatives developed by medicinal chemists to antagonize certain drawbacks of bufadienolides such as innate toxic effect to normal cells. Generally, bufadienolides can effectively induce apoptosis and suppress PCa cells in-vitro and in-vivo, majorly mediated by regulating certain microRNAs/long non-coding RNAs, or by modulating key pro-survival and pro-metastasis players in PCa. Importantly, critical obstacles and challenges using TVAs will be discussed and possible solutions and future perspectives will also be presented in this review. Further in-depth studies are clearly needed to decipher the mechanisms, e.g., targets and pathways, toxic effects and fully reveal their application. The information collected in this work may help evoke more effects in developing bufadienolides as therapeutic agents in PCa.
Insights
Traditional Chinese medicine toad venom-derived agents (TVAs) show promise for treating prostate cancer (PCa). Bufadienolides from TVAs can suppress PCa cells by regulating microRNAs and key survival players.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer death globally, with high incidence and drug resistance.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for overcoming PCa challenges.
- Traditional Chinese medicine toad venom-derived agents (TVAs) exhibit diverse bioactivities, including potential in PCa treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review bufadienolides, the main bioactive components of TVAs, for their application in prostate cancer treatment over the last decade.
- To explore derivatives of bufadienolides developed to mitigate their inherent toxicity.
- To discuss challenges, solutions, and future perspectives for TVAs in PCa therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on bufadienolides and their derivatives in prostate cancer treatment.
- Analysis of mechanisms of action, including apoptosis induction and suppression of PCa cells.
- Examination of regulatory roles in microRNAs/long non-coding RNAs and pro-survival/pro-metastasis factors.
Main Results:
- Bufadienolides effectively induce apoptosis and suppress prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo.
- Mechanisms involve the regulation of specific microRNAs/long non-coding RNAs.
- Modulation of key pro-survival and pro-metastasis players in prostate cancer is also observed.
Conclusions:
- Bufadienolides from TVAs represent a promising therapeutic avenue for prostate cancer.
- Further research is essential to fully elucidate mechanisms, targets, pathways, and toxic effects.
- Development of bufadienolides as PCa therapeutic agents requires in-depth investigation and potential chemical modification.
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