Title:Perspectives of Plant Natural Products in Inhibition of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis by Regulating Multiple Signaling Pathways
Volume: 25
Issue: 38
Author(s): Md. Shahid Sarwar, Hong-Jie Zhang and Siu Wai Tsang*
Affiliation:
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong,Hong Kong
Keywords:
Anticancer, anti-invasive, anti-migratory, invasion, metastasis, migration, natural compounds.
Abstract: Background: Metastasis is often derived from increased invasion and migration of tumor
cells, and is the most frequent cause of cancer-associated death. Either the prophylactic or therapeutic
treatment of metastatic cancer remains very challenging today by virtue of the complex histopathology
and genetic or epigenetic variations. Medicinal scientists had discovered many potential anti-invasive
and anti-metastatic compounds from plant materials. However, data on currently available plant-based
compounds inhibiting cancer invasion and metastasis is relatively scanty and no published article has
been found with updated information in this unique and important aspect.
Methods: We obtained relevant information from a structured search of 327 peer-reviewed articles,
including both research- and review-based papers, related to the use of plant materials in cancer treatments,
particularly for the suppression of invasion and metastasis.
Results: We have categorized the plant-based products with anti-invasive or anti-metastatic properties
into alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, quinones, phenolics, xanthone and sulfur-containing compounds,
and complemented with their chemical structures, sources of isolation and biological targets in the present
review article.
Conclusion: We aim to provide readers a convenient way in reviewing the potential anti-invasive and
anti-metastatic plant-based products with links to different mechanistic pathways, and to inspire researchers
with updated information for the development of new anticancer remedies.