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Published on: April 22, 2019
Phytochemicals and their Nanoformulations for Overcoming Drug Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Zhai Pingping1, Chen Nan2, Tang Yong3
1Heilongjiang Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Harbin, 150000, China.
Background:
Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), leading to therapeutic failure and poor patient prognosis. Numerous mechanisms, including drug efflux pumps, altered tumor microenvironment (TME), and dysregulated cell death pathways, contribute to the development of resistance against conventional chemotherapeutic agents, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. As resistance to traditional treatments continues to emerge, there is an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome these challenges. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds and have demonstrated remarkable potential in targeting multiple resistance mechanisms simultaneously.
Method:
This review comprehensively overviews the current understanding of drug resistance mechanisms in HNSCC and explores innovative strategies utilizing phytochemicals and their nanoformulations to overcome these resistance mechanisms, with a particular focus on recent developments and future perspectives in this field.
Results And Discussion:
Phytochemicals with anticancer properties include a wide range of herbal-derived molecules such as flavonoids, stilbenes, curcuminoids, alkaloids, traditional Chinese medicine, and others. These compounds can modulate ATP-binding cassette transporters, reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), target cancer stem cells (CSCs), and regulate various signaling pathways involved in drug resistance. The integration of phytochemicals into advanced nanoformulation systems has also shown a remarkable improvement in enhancing their bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery to the TME, potentially improving their therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the combination of phytochemicals with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, targeted molecular therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has exhibited synergistic effects, offering a promising approach to restoring drug sensitivity in resistant HNSCC cells.
Conclusion:
Phytochemicals and their nanoformulations may improve response of HNSCC to therapy by alleviating drug resistance.
Insights
Phytochemicals show promise in overcoming drug resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). These natural compounds and their nanoformulations can enhance treatment efficacy by targeting multiple resistance mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Drug resistance is a major obstacle in treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), leading to treatment failure.
- Mechanisms of resistance include drug efflux, altered tumor microenvironment (TME), and disrupted cell death pathways.
- Innovative strategies are crucial to overcome resistance to conventional therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review drug resistance mechanisms in HNSCC.
- To explore phytochemicals and nanoformulations as strategies to overcome HNSCC drug resistance.
- To discuss recent advancements and future directions in this field.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review on HNSCC drug resistance mechanisms.
- Exploration of phytochemicals (e.g., flavonoids, curcuminoids) and their anticancer properties.
- Analysis of nanoformulation strategies for enhanced phytochemical delivery and efficacy.
Main Results:
- Phytochemicals target multiple resistance mechanisms, including ABC transporters, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cells (CSCs).
- Nanoformulations improve phytochemical bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery to the TME.
- Combination therapies with phytochemicals show synergistic effects, restoring sensitivity in resistant HNSCC cells.
Conclusions:
- Phytochemicals and their nanoformulations offer a promising approach to enhance HNSCC therapy response.
- These natural compounds can modulate key pathways involved in drug resistance.
- Further research into phytochemical-based strategies holds potential for improved HNSCC treatment outcomes.
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