Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA.
Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA.
Nutrients. 2021 Dec 25;14(1):79. doi: 10.3390/nu14010079.
To date, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has gained considerable attention in various areas of cancer research due to its role in driving a loss of immune surveillance and enabling rapid advanced tumor development and progression. The TME plays an integral role in driving advanced aggressive breast cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a pivotal mediator for tumor cells to communicate with the surrounding cells via lymphatic and circulatory systems. Furthermore, the TME plays a significant role in all steps and stages of carcinogenesis by promoting and stimulating uncontrolled cell proliferation and protecting tumor cells from the immune system. Various cellular components of the TME work together to drive cancer processes, some of which include tumor-associated adipocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, and neutrophils which sustain perpetual amplification and release of pro-inflammatory molecules such as cytokines. Thymoquinone (TQ), a natural chemical component from black cumin seed, is widely used traditionally and now in clinical trials for the treatment/prevention of multiple types of cancer, showing a potential to mitigate components of TME at various stages by various pathways. In this review, we focus on the role of TME in TNBC cancer progression and the effect of TQ on the TME, emphasizing their anticipated role in the prevention and treatment of TNBC. It was concluded from this review that the multiple components of the TME serve as a critical part of TNBC tumor promotion and stimulation of uncontrolled cell proliferation. Meanwhile, TQ could be a crucial compound in the prevention and progression of TNBC therapy through the modulation of the TME.
迄今为止，肿瘤微环境（TME）在癌症研究的各个领域引起了相当大的关注，因为它在驱动免疫监视丧失以及促进快速肿瘤发展和进展方面发挥着作用。TME 在推动包括三阴性乳腺癌（TNBC）在内的侵袭性乳腺癌中起着至关重要的作用，是肿瘤细胞通过淋巴和循环系统与周围细胞进行通信的关键介质。此外，TME 通过促进和刺激不受控制的细胞增殖并保护肿瘤细胞免受免疫系统的影响，在致癌作用的所有步骤和阶段中都起着重要作用。TME 的各种细胞成分共同作用以推动癌症进程，其中一些包括肿瘤相关脂肪细胞、成纤维细胞、巨噬细胞和中性粒细胞，它们持续放大和释放促炎分子，如细胞因子。百里醌（TQ）是黑孜然种子中的一种天然化学物质成分，在传统医学中被广泛使用，现在正在临床试验中用于治疗/预防多种类型的癌症，具有通过多种途径减轻 TME 各个阶段的成分的潜力。在这篇综述中，我们重点关注 TME 在 TNBC 癌症进展中的作用以及 TQ 对 TME 的影响，强调它们在预防和治疗 TNBC 中的预期作用。从这篇综述中可以得出结论，TME 的多个成分是 TNBC 肿瘤促进和刺激不受控制的细胞增殖的关键部分。同时，TQ 可能通过调节 TME 成为预防和治疗 TNBC 的关键化合物。
