Mekky Reham Hassan, Abo-El Fetoh Mohammed E, Faheem Safaa A, Radwan Abdullah F, Fawzy Mariam H, Mustafa Aya M, Said Mohamed A, Calina Daniela, Sharifi-Rad Javad, Cho William C
Department of Pharmacognosy Faculty of Pharmacy Egyptian Russian University Badr City Cairo Egypt.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmacy Egyptian Russian University Badr City Cairo Egypt.
MedComm (2020). 2025 Jun 27;6(7):e70278. doi: 10.1002/mco2.70278. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Cancer progression is often driven by aberrant cell growth and genetic mutations, leading to metastasis. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway, a key regulator of cellular growth and differentiation, exhibits dual roles in cancer by initially acting as a tumor suppressor and later promoting tumor progression and metastasis. Natural compounds, recognized for their diverse bioactivities and low toxicity, have shown potential in targeting cancer-related pathways, including TGF-β signaling. This review examines the therapeutic potential of natural products in modulating TGF-β signaling and their anticancer effects across various cancer types. We evaluated relevant preclinical and clinical studies assessing the impact of natural products on TGF-β modulation and cancer progression. Natural compounds from sources such as plants impact TGF-β signaling, influencing processes like cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Key compounds reviewed include ginsenosides, halofuginone, and epigallocatechin gallate, demonstrating significant anticancer activity via TGF-β pathway modulation. These findings suggest natural products may serve as complementary therapies in cancer treatment by targeting TGF-β signaling, potentially improving patient outcomes. Continued research and clinical evaluation are necessary to integrate these compounds into conventional cancer therapies, aiming to offer safer, cost-effective options that enhance quality of life.
癌症进展通常由异常的细胞生长和基因突变驱动，从而导致转移。转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）通路是细胞生长和分化的关键调节因子，在癌症中发挥双重作用，最初作为肿瘤抑制因子，随后促进肿瘤进展和转移。天然化合物因其多样的生物活性和低毒性而闻名，已显示出针对包括TGF-β信号传导在内的癌症相关通路的潜力。本综述探讨了天然产物在调节TGF-β信号传导及其对各种癌症类型的抗癌作用方面的治疗潜力。我们评估了相关的临床前和临床研究，这些研究评估了天然产物对TGF-β调节和癌症进展的影响。来自植物等来源的天然化合物会影响TGF-β信号传导，影响细胞增殖、凋亡和血管生成等过程。综述的关键化合物包括人参皂苷、常山酮和表没食子儿没食子酸酯，它们通过调节TGF-β通路显示出显著的抗癌活性。这些发现表明，天然产物可能通过靶向TGF-β信号传导作为癌症治疗的辅助疗法，有可能改善患者的治疗效果。持续的研究和临床评估对于将这些化合物整合到传统癌症治疗中是必要的，旨在提供更安全、更具成本效益的选择，提高生活质量。
