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| Cucurbitacin, produced by some plants, especially Cucurbitaceae, as a defense against herbivores. Toxic compound that can form in plants in the gourd family (Zucchini, Squash). Cucurbitacins have been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cell lines by interfering with cell cycle progression. Cucurbitacins can affect various signaling pathways involved in cancer progression, such as the NF-κB and STAT3 pathways, which are often dysregulated in cancer. Cucurbitacin — Cucurbitacins are a family of highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoids produced mainly by Cucurbitaceae plants as bitter defensive metabolites. They are best treated as a compound class rather than a single molecule; common research abbreviations include CuB, CuD, CuE, CuI, CuQ, and Cuc IIa. Their formal classification is plant-derived triterpenoid natural products with experimental cytotoxic, cytostatic, anti-inflammatory, and pathway-modulating activity. In oncology, cucurbitacin B, E, I, Q, and IIa are the most commonly studied members. Mechanistic profile dominated by ACLY↓, STAT3/JAK signaling, cytoskeletal disruption, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and context-dependent chemosensitization. Primary mechanisms (ranked):
Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral systemic translation is constrained by low solubility, low oral bioavailability, tissue distribution, narrow therapeutic window, and nonspecific toxicity. Cucurbitacin B has reported absolute oral bioavailability of approximately 10% in rat PK work, so in-vitro potency should not be assumed to translate directly to safe systemic exposure. Although CuB displays potent activity against tumor cells, its non-selective toxicity has limited its clinical applications. In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Most anticancer studies use purified cucurbitacins at nanomolar to micromolar concentrations in cell lines and xenografts. Common in-vitro exposure levels may exceed reliably achievable and tolerable human systemic exposure from oral ingestion. This is a concentration-driven small-molecule class, not a field-based or device-based modality. Clinical evidence status: Preclinical. Evidence is substantial across cell-line and animal oncology models, but there is no established FDA, EMA, or Health Canada approved cucurbitacin anticancer drug. Human use is limited by toxicity concerns, lack of standardized clinical oncology dosing, and absence of robust cancer RCT evidence. Cucurbitacin Cancer Mechanism Table
TSF legend: P: 0–30 min R: 30 min–3 hr G: >3 hr |
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| Oxidative phosphorylation (or phosphorylation) is the fourth and final step in cellular respiration. Alterations in phosphorylation pathways result in serious outcomes in cancer. Many signalling pathways including Tyrosine kinase, MAP kinase, Cadherin-catenin complex, Cyclin-dependent kinase etc. are major players of the cell cycle and deregulation in their phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cascade has been shown to be manifested in the form of various types of cancers. Many tumors exhibit a well-known metabolic shift known as the Warburg effect, where glycolysis is favored over OxPhos even in the presence of oxygen. However, this is not universal. Many cancers, including certain subpopulations like cancer stem cells, still rely on OXPHOS for energy production, biosynthesis, and survival. – In several cancers, especially during metastasis or in tumors with high metabolic plasticity, OxPhos can remain active or even be upregulated to meet energy demands. In some cancers, high OxPhos activity correlates with aggressive features, resistance to standard therapies, and poor outcomes, particularly when tumor cells exploit mitochondrial metabolism for survival and metastasis. – Conversely, low OxPhos activity can be associated with a reliance on glycolysis, which is also linked with rapid tumor growth and certain adverse prognostic features. Inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation is not a universal strategy against all cancers. Targeting OXPHOS can potentially disrupt the metabolic flexibility of cancer cells, leading to their death or making them more susceptible to other treatments. Since normal cells also rely on OXPHOS, inhibitors must be carefully targeted to avoid significant toxicity to healthy tissues. Not all tumors are the same. Some may be more glycolytic, while others depend more on mitochondrial metabolism. Therefore, metabolic profiling of tumors is crucial before adopting this strategy. Inhibiting OXPHOS is being explored in combination with other treatments (such as chemo- or immunotherapies) to improve efficacy and overcome resistance. In cancer cells, metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark where cells often rely on glycolysis (known as the Warburg effect); however, many cancer types also depend on OXPHOS for energy production and survival. Targeting OXPHOS(using inhibitor) to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can selectively induce oxidative stress and cell death in cancer cells. -One side effect of increased OXPHOS is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). -Many cancer cells therefore simultaneously upregulate antioxidant systems to mitigate the damaging effects of elevated ROS. -Increase in oxidative phosphorylation can inhibit cancer growth. |
| 6203- | Cuc, | immuno, | Isocucurbitacin B targets STAT3 to induce ferroptosis and promote anti-PD1 immunotherapy responses in breast cancer |
| - | in-vitro, | BC, | MDA-MB-231 | - | in-vitro, | BC, | BT549 | - | in-vivo, | BC, | 4T1 |
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers. Such Conditions may include : -low or high Dose -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations -different cell line effects -synergies with other products -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
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