Synergistic effects of natural compounds and conventional chemotherapeutic agents: recent insights for the development of cancer treatment strategies

Heliyon

卷:8

Johanna Pedroza-Díaz¹  Carlos Mario Meléndez²  Ana María Castañeda²  Diego Uribe² 

[1] Corresponding author.;

[2] Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica GI2B, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Aplicadas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, 050012, Medellín, Colombia;

关键词: Chemotherapy;    Natural products;    Tumoricidal effect;    Reversal of chemoresistance;    Selectivity for cancer cells;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Chemotherapy is presented as an option for treatment of this disease, however, low specificity, high resistance rates, toxicity and hypersensitivity reactions, make it necessary to search for therapeutic alternatives that increase the selectivity of treatment, reduce the side effects and enhance its antitumor potential. Natural products are accessible, inexpensive and less toxic sources; in addition, they have multiple mechanisms of action that can potentiate the outcome of chemotherapeutics. In this review, we present evidence on the beneficial effect of the interaction of dietary phytochemicals with chemotherapeutical agents for cancer treatment. This effect is generated by different mechanisms of action such as, increased tumoricidal effect via sensitization of cancer cells, reversing chemoresistance through inhibition of several targets involved in the development of drug resistance and, decreasing chemotherapy-induced toxicity in non-tumoral cells by the promotion of repair mechanisms. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid basis for the exploration of the potential use of natural products in combination with chemotherapeutical agents, to overcome some of the difficulties that arise in the management of cancer patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown