Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
07:02

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

7.8K

Natural Compounds Targeting MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and JAK/STAT Signaling in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Michelle Carnazza1, Nan Yang1, Raj K Tiwari2,3

  • 1Division of R&D, General Nutraceutical Technology LLC, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|November 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Natural compounds show promise in treating advanced thyroid cancer (TC). This review highlights their potential to target key molecular pathways, offering new therapeutic avenues for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) being the predominant subtype.
  • While PTC has a good prognosis post-surgery, advanced or recurrent cases have lower survival rates and require ongoing management.
  • Current treatments and surveillance for PTC can lead to adverse effects, necessitating alternative therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the potential of naturally occurring compounds in treating thyroid cancer.
  • To explore how these compounds target key molecular pathways involved in PTC tumorigenesis.
  • To highlight their role in overcoming therapeutic resistance and restoring apoptosis in advanced and recurrent PTC.

Main Methods:

  • This is a narrative review, synthesizing existing research on natural compounds and their mechanisms in thyroid cancer.
  • Focus is placed on compounds that impact the PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.
  • Literature search and analysis of studies investigating natural compounds' anti-cancer properties in PTC.

Main Results:

  • Naturally occurring compounds exhibit anti-cancer properties relevant to thyroid cancer.
  • These compounds converge on critical molecular nodes such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK/STAT pathways.
  • Evidence suggests these natural agents can overcome therapeutic resistance and promote apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Natural compounds represent a promising therapeutic avenue for advanced and recurrent papillary thyroid cancer.
  • Targeting molecular pathways like PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK/STAT with natural compounds may offer new treatment options.
  • Further research into these compounds could lead to novel strategies for managing challenging PTC cases.
Keywords:
natural compoundspapillary thyroid cancertraditional Chinese medicine

More Related Videos

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma13:18

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.7K
Author Spotlight: Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Decipher the Action of Jiawei Shengjiang San Against Diabetic Kidney Disease08:15

Author Spotlight: Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Decipher the Action of Jiawei Shengjiang San Against Diabetic Kidney Disease

Published on: May 10, 2024

905

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.3K
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
7.2K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
11.9K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
7.8K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.6K
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...
5.5K