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Targeting of oncogenic signaling pathways by berberine for treatment of colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Studies indicate that inhibiting a single signaling pathway or one single product of a gene is insufficient for the prevention and treatment of cancer. This is due to the fact that dysregulation must occur in more than 500 genes in order to produce a cancerous phenotype. Despite this evidence, available drugs used for cancer treatment focus on a single target. Meanwhile, berberine as a nutraceutical is capable of targeting various processes involved in tumor development including proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In comparison with synthetic agents, berberine is cheaper, safer, and more available. Berberine has shown anti-inflammatory properties which make it an ideal option in order to prevent inflammation-associated cancers. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers all over the world and its incidence is increasing each day. Therefore, further investigations about berberine could be helpful in the discovery of novel agents for preventing and/or treating colorectal cancer. This review emphasizes the studies investigating the roles of berberine in colorectal cancer such as controlling cell signaling pathways, inducing apoptosis, regulating microRNAs, attenuating oxidative stress, and affecting inflammation.

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Abbreviations

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

miRNA:

MicroRNA

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-κB

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel disease

IMCE:

Immorto-min colonic epithelial

AIF:

Apoptosis-inducing factor

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

PARP:

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase

lncRNAs:

Long non-coding RNAs

CASC2:

Cancer susceptibility candidate 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Research Center for Evidence-Based Health Management, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran

    Jamal Hallajzadeh

  2. Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Parisa Maleki Dana & Zatollah Asemi

  3. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Moein Mobini

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Mansournia

  5. Department of Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mehran Sharifi

  6. Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Bahman Yousefi

Authors
  1. Jamal Hallajzadeh
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  2. Parisa Maleki Dana
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  3. Moein Mobini
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  4. Zatollah Asemi
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  5. Mohammad Ali Mansournia
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  6. Mehran Sharifi
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  7. Bahman Yousefi
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Contributions

JH and PMD contributed in conception, design, and drafting of the manuscript. MM, ZA, MAM, MS, and BY contributed in data collection and manuscript drafting. All authors approved the final version for submission. BY oversaw the study.

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Correspondence to Bahman Yousefi.

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Hallajzadeh, J., Maleki Dana, P., Mobini, M. et al. Targeting of oncogenic signaling pathways by berberine for treatment of colorectal cancer. Med Oncol 37, 49 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-020-01367-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-020-01367-9

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