Resveratrol: Sensitising CD44+ Cervical Cancer Cells to Carboplatin and Mitigating Metastasis

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus drives cervical carcinogenesis, and treatment outcomes are frequently challenged by metastasis and chemoresistance. The transmembrane glycoprotein cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a marker associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs), has emerged as a critical mediator of both processes in cervical cancer.

This review aims to critically evaluate current evidence on the role of CD44 in cervical cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. It also explores the potential of resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol with known anticancer properties, as a chemo-sensitizing agent to carboplatin therapy.

A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to identify studies that investigate CD44-mediated mechanisms in cervical cancer, as well as the modulatory and mechanistic effects of resveratrol on CD44 and chemoresistance across various cancer types.

CD44 has been consistently implicated in promoting drug resistance, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness in cervical cancer. Resveratrol has demonstrated antimetastatic and chemo-sensitizing effects in several malignancies, such as colorectal and breast cancers, often through modulation of CD44 and associated pathways. However, direct evidence in cervical cancer remains limited.

Current findings suggest a promising therapeutic avenue for combining resveratrol with carboplatin to overcome CD44-mediated treatment resistance and metastasis in cervical cancer. Nonetheless, further cervical-specific studies are needed to validate this approach. A clearer understanding of this relationship may facilitate lower chemotherapy dosing, reduced toxicity, and improved clinical outcomes.