Flyer

International Journal of Drug Development and Research

  • ISSN: 0975-9344
  • Journal h-index: 49
  • Journal CiteScore: 11.20
  • Journal Impact Factor: 8.24
  • Average acceptance to publication time (5-7 days)
  • Average article processing time (30-45 days) Less than 5 volumes 30 days
    8 - 9 volumes 40 days
    10 and more volumes 45 days
Awards Nomination 20+ Million Readerbase
Indexed In
  • Genamics JournalSeek
  • China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)
  • CiteFactor
  • Scimago
  • Directory of Research Journal Indexing (DRJI)
  • OCLC- WorldCat
  • Publons
  • MIAR
  • University Grants Commission
  • Euro Pub
  • Google Scholar
  • J-Gate
  • SHERPA ROMEO
  • Secret Search Engine Labs
  • ResearchGate
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
Share This Page

Research Article - (2018) Volume 10, Issue 1

Combination of Natural Agent with Synthetic Drug for the Breast Cancer Therapy

Bharti Mangla and Kanchan Kohli*

Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

*Corresponding Author:

Kanchan Kohli
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical
Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
Tel: 9991597707
E-mail: prof.kanchankohli@gmail.com

Received Date: January 31, 2018 Accepted Date: February 08, 2018 Published Date: February 15, 2018

Citation: Mangla B, Kohli K (2018) Combination of Natural Agent with Synthetic Drug for the Breast Cancer Therapy. Int J Drug Dev & Res 10: 22-26

Visit for more related articles at International Journal of Drug Development and Research

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the major cause of death worldwide. Urgently treatment is needed. A number of undesired side effects sometimes occur during the conventional therapy of cancer. Bioactive compounds derived from plant are the most popular alternative medicine which may reduce adverse effects. Various herbal compounds have been identified and showed very promising anti-cancer properties.

Methodology: The review was systematically conducted by searching the databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar and Science Direct for original research articles and books using relevant search terms.

Results: The potential of combining phytomedicine or natural products with synthetic drugs or introducing these into conventional treatment regimens are not yet systematically explored. Combinatorial strategy may hold promise in development of therapies and chemoprevention strategies against ER-positive breast tumors.

Discussion: The screening for synergetic effects of such combinations is technically demanding and complex, also in the context of drug/herb interactions, but likely to substantially advance pharmacotherapy and future medicine.

Conclusion: It has been concluded that combined effect may improve the treatment effectiveness in combating proliferation of cancer cells, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, as well as abrogating drug resistance.

Keywords

Breast cancer; Synergic effect; Herbal agent; Synthetic drugs; Bioactive compounds

Introduction

Cancer is dangerous and deadly disease. Early stage of detection may help to cure or improve the life span of the patient. Worldwide, the 2nd foremost reason of the death is breast cancer. All over the world, the total of women diagnosed with breast tumor is higher than one million [1]. There are several factors associated with the breast tumor, for example old age, gender, diet, a first child being born at an old age, consumption of alcoholic beverages, body movement, family history, intake of progesterone or estrogen, lifestyle and endocrine aspects as well including both exogenous and endogenous. There are some other important factors that lead to breast cancer, like radiation therapy of the breast, previous benign and mammographic density [2]. Male are also have some breast cells and tissue that have the possibility to form breast cancer. Figure 1 demonstrated that how the cancer developed from heathy cells [3].

Drug-Development-Research-Development

Figure 1: Development of cancer [5].

Stages in Breast Cancer

Stage 0

Describe as non-invasive breast cancers. It consists of three types of breast carcinoma [4].

a) Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): this condition is noninvasive and the abnormal cells are found in lining of the breast duct, but the spreading of the abnormal cells is not outside the tissues of breast.

b) Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): in this condition, the abnormal cells are present in the lobules of the breast. This rarely occurs as invasive cancer. Presence of abnormal cells in lobules increases the risk of breast cancer.

c) Paget disease of the nipple: in this condition, abnormal cells are found in nipple only.

Stage I

It is divided into subcategories known as IA and IB.

a) Stage IA: the cancer measures upto 2 cm or small and not found or spread outside the breast; no lymph nodes are involved

b) Stage IB: small clusters are found in the lymph nodes. There is no tumor in the breast; instead, small groups of cancer cells-larger than 0.2 mm but not larger than 2 mm.

There is a tumor in the breast that is no larger than 2 cm, and there are small groups of cancer cells-larger than 0.2 mm but not larger than 2 mm.

Stage II (invasive)

breast cancer: It is divided into Stage IIa and Stage IIb.

a) Stage IIa: tumor present, 2 cm< tumor<5 cm2. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

b) Stage IIb: 2 cm

Stage III (locally advanced)

breast cancer: It is divided into IIIA, IIIB and IIIC.

a) Stage IIIa: tumor >5 cm and cancer spreads to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes.

b) Stage IIIb: the tumor spreads to 9 axillary lymph nodes.

c) Stage IIIc: tumor may be of any size causing swelling or ulcer and has spread to chest wall. Cancer has spread to 10 or more axillary lymph nodes.

Stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer

In this stage, the cancer spread to the body, beyond the breast, underarm and internal mammary lymph nodes to other parts of the body near to or distant from the breast (Figure 2).

Drug-Development-Research-cancer

Figure 2: Breast cancer signs.

Methodology

The review was systematically conducted by searching the databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, the Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for original research articles and books using relevant search terms or their combinations: “Breast cancer, Anticancer drug, Synergic effect, Herbal agent, Synthetic drugs, Bioactive compounds.” Our search was not limited by date but to all relevant publications available in the English language [5].

Treatment of breast cancer

There are many treatment options for breast cancer like surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy, many chemotherapeutic but they have resistance as well as many adverse effects that prevent their usage [6,7]. Combination of these treatments also be a best approach for some cancers like surgery combined with radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, or with all these three treatments. Combination therapy is given according to the type, size, risk and the stage of the breast cancer. Before surgery, either chemotherapy or radiation therapy is used to shrink a canner cell or tumor, thereby improving the opportunity for complete surgical removal [8].

Combination of synthetic drug and natural drug

Due to the increase risk of breast cancer, combination therapy is urgently needed. Combination therapy is useful for the patients having the last stage of breast cancer which cannot be treated by surgery or radiation therapy. The rational for the combination of plant constituents with each other or with synthetic drugs are multiple. Combination of herbal and synthetic drug improves the bioavailability of one of the drugs through facilitating the transport of the drug, reduces the dose, a change of the biological activity status of a cell the over- coming of bacterial resistance mechanisms by influencing the transport, the permeability or the efflux pump of the bacteria or the overcoming of (multi-)drug resistance mechanisms in cancer or autoimmune diseases [9,10]. Some researchers worked on the combination therapy for the treatment breast cancer as shown in Table 1.

Natural agent Synthetic drug Mechanism Ref.
Curcumin Cyclophosphamide, Paclitaxel MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MCF-12F in mice mammary tumors [14]
Curcumin, Baicalein, Resveratrol Paclitaxel MCF-7 cells Apoptosis, inhibition of EGFR signalling [15]
20S-protopanaxadiol Tamoxifen MCF-7 Xenograft Model in SCID Mice, Human breast adenocarcinoma cells [16]
Flavonoids and isoflavonoids Epirubicin Human multidrug resistance 1 (mdr1) gene-transfected mouse lymphoma cell line multidrug resistance protein (MRP)-expressing human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 [17]

Table 1: Some reported combination of synthetic and herbal drugs for the breast cancer therapy.

Synthetic drugs for breast cancer

Accoding to FDA, there are several approved drugs which prevent and treat the breast cancer [11]. Evista (Raloxifene Hydrochloride), Abitrexate (Methotrexate), Abraxane (Paclitaxel Albumin-stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation), Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine, Afinitor (Everolimus), Anastrozole, Aredia (Pamidronate Disodium), Keoxifene, Arimidex (Anastrozole), Aromasin (Exemestane), Capecitabine, Clafen (Cyclophosphamide), Cyclophosphamide, Cytoxan, Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Ellence (Epirubicin Hydrochloride), Epirubicin Hydrochloride, Eribulin Mesylate, Everolimus, Exemestane, 5-FU (Fluorouracil Injection), Fareston (Toremifene), Faslodex (Fulvestrant), Femara (Letrozole), Folex (Methotrexate), Fulvestrant, Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, Gemzar, Goserelin Acetate, Halaven (Eribulin Mesylate), Herceptin (Trastuzumab), Ibrance (Palbociclib), Ixabepilone, Ixempra (Ixabepilone), Kadcyla, Kisqali (Ribociclib), Lapatinib Ditosylate, Letrozole, Megestrol Acetate, Methotrexate LPF, Mexate-A, Neosar, Neratinib Maleate, Nerlynx, Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate), Palbociclib, Pamidronate Disodium, Perjeta (Pertuzumab), Pertuzumab, Ribociclib, Taxol, Taxotere (Docetaxel), Thiotepa, Toremifene, Tykerb (Lapatinib Ditosylate), Verzenio (abemaciclib), Velban (Vinblastine Sulfate), Velsar (Vinblastine Sulfate), Vinblastine Sulfate, Xeloda (Capecitabine), Zoladex (Goserelin Acetate).

Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals for breast cancer therapy

A wide variety of naturally occurring compounds or bioactives from plant food have been fight against the breast cancer [12]. Most of the bioactive have been identified in vegetables, fruits, barks, leaves, spices, and grains and exhibit chemo-preventive activity [13-21]. Plant extracts contain bioactive compounds for the breast cancer therapy as shown in Table 2.

Herbal plant Mode of action Main constituent Ref.
Bitter Leaf
(Vernonia amygdalina)
Inhibition of proliferation, cell growth, DNA synthesis of breast cancer MCF7 Flavonoids, Terpenoids, saponins. [18,19]
Brazilian ginseng
(Pfaffia paniculate)
Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 Pfaffic acid, pfaffosides A–G and saponins [21]
Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 C28-steroidal lactone triterpenoids, withanolides [23-25]
Amoora rohituka Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 Flavopiridol [26,27]
apple peels Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 Quercetin and quercetin-3-β-d-glucoside (Q3G) [28-29]
Water mint
(Mentha aquatic)
Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 Flavonoid, phenolic compounds [30]
Virgin olive oil Antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 Oleuropein aglycone [31]
American cranberry
(Vaccinium macrocarpon)
  Flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, [32-33]
Pomegranate
(Punica granatum)
Antiproliferative activity in MDA-ERα7 and MDA-MB-231 cells Punicic acid [34]
Barberry Induction of apoptosis in MCF7 Berberine [35]
Shikon Inhibition of estrogen-dependent gene transcription Shikonin [36]
Red grapes, pea-nuts and berries Decrease in viability, glucose consumption and ATP content in MCF7 Resveratrol [37]
Conifer resins Chemopreventive efficacy in breast cancer mice model Triterpenoids [38]
Soybean Inhibition of DNA methylation and antiproliferative activity in MCF7 and MDAMB231 Genistein [39]
Allium Inhibition of apoptosis in MCF7 S-alkenyl mercaptocysteine [40]
Tomato Inhibition of cell proliferation in MCF7 Lycopene [41]
Red chilli Notch pathway inhibition of breast cancer stem cell Capsaicin [42]
Fenugreek Inhibition of migration of MDAMB231 by suppressing Vav2 activity Diosgenin [43]
Ginger Apoptotic Effects of in MCF7 6-Gingerol [44]
Fruits and vegetables Inhibition of growth of MDAMB231 and P-VEGFR2 expression, inhibited neo-vessel formation in chicken Ellagic acid [45]
Anise, camphor, fennel Suppression of cell survival and antiproliferative activity in MCF7 and MDAMB-31cells. Anethole [46]
Green tea Suppression of proliferation of estrogen-sensitive MCF7 Catechin [47]
Cloves Induction of apoptosis in MDAMB231 through E2F1/survivin down-regulation in vitro and in vivo Eugenol [48]
Citrus fruits Breast tissue disposition in women with early-stage breast Limonene [49]
Fruits and vegetables Apoptosis and induced cell-cycle arrest Beta-carotene [50]
Garlic Detoxification of carcinogens, suppression of DNA adduct formation, inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species, regulation of cell-cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis Diallyl disulfide [22]
Cruciferous vegetables Oxidative stress induced upregulation of ATF-3 and antiproliferative activity in MCF7 cell lines. Indole-3-carbinol [20]

Table 2: Bioactive present in herbal plant for the breast cancer therapy.

Discussion

In the national and international context of research into development of drug delivery systems, the combination therapy is the highest significance. Combination of drug targeting to breast cancer through suitable carrier system have become widely advantageous with less side effects [22-29]. The treatment of cancer is expensive, because the prescribed drugs are costly and have taken over a long period of time. Alone some synthetic drugs have various side effects due to its high dose, low solubility, low bioavailability [30-34]. So, it is important to deliver the synthetic drugs along with the natural supplement to overcome their problems. In this scenario, combination therapy is expected to reduce the dosage regimen such that the cost of the treatment and associated adverse events are reduced considerably. Such a therapy will not only be commercially successful but also helpful to the society. Side effects of conventional drug have been minimized by conjugation with natural drug and they increase the quality of life of patients [35-41].

Conclusion

Herbal remedies play an important role in the management of breast cancer. Use of herbs as an adjunct to chemotherapy not only exhibits therapeutic efficacy but is also cost effective. Plant extracts contain bioactive compounds that have been used as medicines. Combination of natural and synthetic drugs proved to be an alternate strategy to generate synergistic anticancer specially for breast cancer effects, reduced toxicity associated with individual drug, suppress resistance associated with multiple drugs and enhance the treatment effect. Combination therapy also helps to reduce the dose of the individual drug as well as improves the therapeutic efficacy [42-50].

Acknowledgements and Funding

This work was supported by the DST Inspire Fellowship, New Delhi, India.

22326

References

  1. Desantis C, Ma J, Bryan L, Jemal A (2013) Breast cancer statistics. CA: Cancer J Clin 64: 52-62.
  2. Torre LA, Bray F, Siegel R (2012) Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 65: 87.
  3. Eastman A, Grant S, Lock R, Tritton T, Houten NV, et al. (1994) Cell Death in Cancer and Development. Cancer Res 54: 2812-2818.
  4. Carmichael AR, Mokbel K (2016) Evolving Trends in Breast Surgery: Oncoplastic to Onco-Aesthetic Surgery. Arch Plast Surg 43: 222-223.
  5. Schweim JKSH, Schweim JK, Schweim HG (2014) Status quo and future developments of combinations of medicinal products. Synergy 1: 70-5.
  6. Wagner H, Ulrich-Merzenich G (2009) Synergy research: approaching a new generation of phytopharmaceuticals. Phytomedicine 16: 97-110.
  7. Krieghoff-Henning E, Folkerts J, Penzkofer A, Weg-Remers S, Cancer – an overview.
  8. Fridlender M, Kapulnik Y, Koltai H (2015) Plant derived substances with anti-cancer activity: from folklore to practice. Front Plant Sci 6: 799.
  9. Xu DP, Li Y, Meng X (2017) Natural Antioxidants in Foods and Medicinal Plants: Extraction, Assessment and Resources. I J Mol Sci 18: 96.
  10. Royt M, Mukherjee S, Sarkar RBJ (2011) Curcumin sensitizes chemotherapeutic drugs via modulation of PKC, telomerase, NF-kappaB and HDAC in breast cancer. Ther Deliv 2: 1275-1293.
  11. Zhan Y, Chen Y, Liu R, Zhang HZY (2013) Potentiation of paclitaxel activity by curcumin in human breast cancer cell by modulating apoptosis and inhibiting EGFR signaling. Arch Pharm Res 37: 1086-1095.
  12. Yu Y, Zhou Q, Hang Y, Bu X, Jia W (2007) Antiestrogenic effect of 20S-protopanaxadiol and its synergy with tamoxifen on breast cancer cells. Cancer 109: 2374-2382.
  13. Gyemant N, Tanaka M, Antus S, Hohmann J, Csuka O, et al. (2005) In vitro search for synergy between flavonoids and epirubicin on multidrug- resistant cancer cells. In Vivo 19: 367-374.
  14. Oyugi DA, Luo X, Lee KS, Hill B, Izevbigie EB (2009) Activity markers of the anti-breast carcinoma cell growth fractions of Vernonia amygdalina extracts. Exp Biol Med 234: 410-417.
  15. Yedjou C, Izevbigie E, Tchounwou P (2008) Preclinical assessment of vernonia amygdalina leaf extracts as DNA damaging anti-cancer agent in the management of breast cancer. Int J Environ Res Pub Health 5: 337-341.
  16. Caruso JA, Campana R, Wei C, Su CH, Hanks AM, et al. (2014) Indole-3-carbinol and its N-alkoxy derivatives preferentially target ERα-positive breast cancer cells. Cell Cycle 13: 2587-2599.
  17. Kagiki FO, Goncalves GC, Oliveira ET, Crocomo OJ, Gallo LA (2004) Cytotoxic effects of butanolic extract from Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) on cultured human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Bras. Plantas Med Rev 7: 43-49.
  18. Tsubura A, Lai YC, Kuwata M, Uehara N, Yoshizawa K (2011) Anticancer effects of garlic and garlic-derived compounds for breast cancer control. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 11: 249-53.
  19. Ali-Shtayeh MS, Yaniv Z, Mahajna J (2000) Ethnobotanical survey in the Palestinian area: a classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 73: 221-232.
  20. Kaileh M, Vanden Berghe W, Boone E, Essawi T, Haegeman G (2007) Screening of indigenous Palestinian medicinal plants for potential anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. J Ethnopharmacol 113: 510-516.
  21. Jayaprakasam B, Zhang Y, Seeram NP, Nair MG (2003) Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves. Life Sci 74: 125-132.
  22. Carlson BA, Dubay MM, Sausville EA, Brizuela L, Worland PJ (1996) Flavopiridol induces G1 arrest with inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 and CDK4 in human breast carcinoma cells. Cancer Res 56: 2973-2978.
  23. Tan AR, Swain SM (2002) Review of flavopiridol, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, as breast cancer therapy. Semin Oncol 29: 77-85.
  24. He X, Liu RH (2008) Phytochemicals of apple peels: isolation, structure elucidation, and their antiproliferative and antioxidant activities. J Agric Food Chem 56: 9905-9910.
  25. Yang J, Liu RH (2009) Synergistic effect of apple extracts and quercetin 3-beta-d-glucoside combination on antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro. J Agric Food Chem 57: 8581-8586.
  26. Conforti F, Ioele G, Statti GA, Marrelli M, Ragno G, et al. (2008) Antiproliferative activity against human tumor cell lines and toxicity test on Mediterranean dietary plants. Food Chem Toxicol 46: 3325-32
  27. Cicerale S, Lucas L, Keast R (2010) Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds Present in Virgin Olive Oil. I J Mol Sci 11: 458-479.
  28. Zuo Y, Wang C, Wen J (2003) Antioxidant and Antibreast Cancer Capacity of American Cranberry and Other Fruits, Abstracts of Papers, 225th ACS National Meeting. New Orleans, LA: ACS, pp: 23-27.
  29.  Murphy BT, Yan XJ, Gomes C, Hammond GB, Neto C (2003) Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Antitumor Agents from Cranberry Fruit and Roots, Abstracts of Papers, 225th ACS National Meeting. New Orleans, LA: ACS, pp: 23-27.
  30. Grossmann ME, Mizuno NK, Schuster T, Cleary MP (2010) Punicic acid is an omega-5 fatty acid capable of inhibiting breast cancer proliferation. Int J Oncol 36: 421-426.
  31. Patil JB, Kim J, Jayaprakasha GK (2010) Berberine induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) through mitochondrial-dependent pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 645: 70-78.
  32. Yao Y, Brodie AMH, Davidson NE, Kensler TW, Zhou Q (2010) Inhibition of estrogen signaling activates the NRF2 pathway in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 124: 585-591.
  33. Gomez LS, Zancan P, Marcondes MC, Ramos-Santos L, Meyer-Fernandes JR, et al. (2013) Resveratrol decreases breast cancer cell viability and glucose metabolism by inhibiting 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase. Biochimie 95: 1336-43.
  34. Bishayee A, Ahmed S, Brankov N, Perloff M (2011) Triterpenoids as potential agents for the chemoprevention and therapy of breast cancer. Front Biosci 16: 980-996.
  35. Xie Q, Bai Q, Zou LY, Zhang QY, Zhou Y, et al. (2014) Genistein inhibits DNA methylation and increases expression of tumor suppressor genes in human breast cancer cells. Genes Chromosom Cancer 53: 422-31.
  36. Zhang W, Xiao H, Parkin KL (2014) Apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells induced by S-alkenylmercaptocysteine (CySSR) species derived from Allium tissues in combination with sodium selenite. Food Chem Toxicol 68: 1-10.
  37. Uppala PT, Dissmore T, Lau BH, Andacht T, Rajaram S (2013) Selective inhibition of cell proliferation by lycopene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro: a proteomic analysis. Phytother Res 27: 595-601.
  38. He Z, Chen H, Li G, Zhu H, Gao Y, et al. (2014) Diosgenin inhibits the migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by suppressing Vav2 activity. Phytomedicine 21: 871-876.
  39. Kim HS, Lee SH, Byun Y, Park HD (2015) 6-Gingerol reduces Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation and virulence via quorum sensing inhibition. Sci Rep 5: 8656.
  40. Ahire V, Kumar A, Mishra KP, Kulkarni G (2017) Ellagic Acid Enhances Apoptotic Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to γ-Radiation. Nutr Cancer 69: 904-910.
  41. Chen CH, DeGraffenried LA (2012) Anethole suppressed cell survival and induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells independent of estrogen receptor status. Phytomedicine 19: 763-767.
  42. Baker KM, Bauer AC (2015) Green Tea Catechin, EGCG, Suppresses PCB 102-Induced Proliferation in Estrogen-Sensitive Breast Cancer Cells. I J Breast Can 7.
  43. Al-Sharif I, Remmal A, Aboussekhra A (2013) Eugenol triggers apoptosis in breast cancer cells through E2F1/survivin down-regulation. BMC Cancer 13: 600.
  44. Miller JA, Lang JE, Ley M, Nagle R, Hsu CH, et al. (2013) Human breast tissue disposition and bioactivity of limonene in women with early stage breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res 6: 577-584.
  45. Gloria NF, Soares N, Brand C, Oliveira FL, Borojevic R, et al. (2014) Lycopene and beta-carotene induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines. Anticancer Res 34: 1377-1386.