Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment
11:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment

Published on: June 9, 2023

1.7K

Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer

Zi-Yun Wu1, Kang-Yu Qiu1, Yan-Jun Gai1

  • 1Department of Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China.

International Journal of Nanomedicine
|July 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, shows significant potential in treating breast cancer by targeting multiple molecular pathways. It also enhances chemotherapy effectiveness and reduces toxicity, offering a promising therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Products Research

Background:

  • Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women globally.
  • Comprehensive studies on herbal medicine mechanisms and treatments for breast cancer are lacking.
  • Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, has demonstrated multi-targeted therapeutic potential against breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and assess the mechanisms and therapeutic effects of quercetin in breast cancer.
  • To explore quercetin's role in various molecular pathways implicated in breast cancer, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
  • To evaluate quercetin's synergistic effects with conventional chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science.
  • Articles published within the last five years focusing on "breast cancer" and "quercetin" were collected.
  • A total of 272 relevant articles were retrieved and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Quercetin targets multiple molecular mechanisms in breast cancer, including the IGF1/IGF1R pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, and MAPK/ERK cascades.
  • It also affects PTEN promoter demethylation and shows particular efficacy in TNBC.
  • Quercetin exhibits synergistic activity with chemotherapy, overcoming drug resistance and reducing toxicity by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Quercetin possesses multi-modal therapeutic potential against breast cancer through diverse molecular mechanisms.
  • It acts as a strategic agent disrupting breast cancer progression by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation and metastasis.
  • Quercetin's ability to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and reduce toxicity makes it a promising candidate for breast cancer treatment.
Keywords:
apoptosisbreast cancercombination therapydrug carrierquercetin

More Related Videos

Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module10:39

Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module

Published on: June 18, 2015

13.3K
Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells13:38

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

12.4K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
6.3K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
4.9K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K