Parthenolide / NRF2 Cancer Research Results

PTL, Parthenolide: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Parthenolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone derived from the medicinal plant feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).
-Micheliolide (MCL) is converted readily from parthenolide (PTL), and has better stability and solubility than PTL
-Parthenolide is a natural compound used to treat migraines and arthritis and found to act as a potent NF-κB signaling inhibitor.

Main activities include:
-Inhibition of NF-κB Signaling:
-Induction of Oxidative Stress (ROS): oxidative stress can overwhelm the antioxidant defenses of the cancer cells, leading to cellular damage and death
-Parthenolide can interfere with STAT3 signaling, inhibiting the transcription of genes that favor tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis.
-Modulation of the MAPK/ERK Pathway:
-Impact on the JNK Pathway:
-Parthenolide has been shown to target cancer stem cells

Rank Pathway / Target Axis Direction Primary Effect Notes / Cancer Relevance Ref
1 NF-κB DNA-binding (p65/RelA Cys38 alkylation) ↓ NF-κB DNA binding Suppresses pro-survival transcription Direct mechanism: parthenolide inhibits NF-κB most likely by alkylating p65 at Cys38, reducing DNA binding (ref)
2 Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1 / TrxR2) ↓ TrxR activity Redox buffering collapse Parthenolide directly targets TrxR1/TrxR2 (selenocysteine-containing enzymes) and inhibits function (ref)
3 ROS accumulation (superoxide / oxidative stress) ↑ ROS Upstream cytotoxic trigger Same TrxR-targeting study shows TrxR inhibition shifts redox state and drives ROS accumulation leading to apoptosis (ref)
4 Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm) ↓ ΔΨm Mitochondrial dysfunction Parthenolide increases ROS and is reported with a combined ΔΨm reduction accompanying apoptosis across cancer cell lines (ref)
5 Intrinsic apoptosis (caspase-3 activation) ↑ caspase-3 Programmed cell death Parthenolide treatment associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-3 activation in cancer cells (ref)
6 STAT3 signaling (via JAK2 covalent inhibition) ↓ STAT3 phosphorylation/signaling Reduced survival / migration programs Parthenolide covalently modifies JAK2 cysteines, suppressing kinase activity and inhibiting STAT3 signaling (ref)
7 AML stem cell targeting (LSC vulnerability; regimen context) ↓ AML stem cell survival Stem/progenitor depletion Parthenolide-based regimen (parthenolide + 2DG + temsirolimus) demonstrates potent targeting of AML stem cells (ref)
8 In vivo anti-tumor effect (xenograft; parthenolide analog evidence) ↓ tumor growth Demonstrated efficacy (derivative) Note: this is for an orally bioavailable parthenolide analog (DMAPT), not native parthenolide (ref)


NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: TCGA
Type: Antiapoptotic
Nrf2 is responsible for regulating an extensive panel of antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification and elimination of oxidative stress. Thought of as "Master Regulator" of antioxidant response.
-One way to estimate Nrf2 induction is through the expression of NQO1.
NQO1, the most potent inducer:
SFN 0.2 μM,
quercetin (2.5 μM),
curcumin (2.7 μM),
Silymarin (3.6 μM),
tamoxifen (5.9 μM),
genistein (6.2 μM ),
beta-carotene (7.2μM),
lutein (17 μM),
resveratrol (21 μM),
indol-3-carbinol (50 μM),
chlorophyll (250 μM),
alpha-cryptoxanthin (1.8 mM),
and zeaxanthin (2.2 mM)

1. Raising Nrf2 enhances the cell's antioxidant defenses and ↓ROS. This strategy is used to decrease chemo-radio side effects.
2. Downregulating Nrf2 lowers antioxidant defenses and ↑ROS. In cancer cells this leads to DNA damage, and cell death.
3. However there are some cases where increasing Nrf2 paradoxically causes an increase in ROS (cancer cells). Such as cases of Mitochondial overload, signal crosstalk, reductive stress

-In some cases, Nrf2 is overexpressed in cancer cells, which can lead to the activation of genes involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This can contribute to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
-Increased Nrf2 expression: Lung, Breast, Colorectal, Prostrate.
Decreased Nrf2 expression: Skine, Liver, Pancreatic.
-Nrf2 is a cytoprotective transcription factor which demonstrated both a negative effect as well as a positive effect on cancer
- "promotes Nrf2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus," means facilitates the movement of Nrf2 into the nucleus, thereby enhancing the cell's antioxidant and cytoprotective responses. -Major regulator of Nrf2 activity in cells is the cytosolic inhibitor Keap1.

Nrf2 Inhibitors and Activators
Nrf2 Inhibitors: Brusatol, Luteolin, Trigonelline, VitC, Retinoic acid, Chrysin
Nrf2 Activators: SFN, OPZ EGCG, Resveratrol, DATS, CUR, CDDO, Api
- potent Nrf2 inducers from plants include sulforaphane, curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, wasabi, cafestol and kahweol (coffee), cinnamon, ginger, garlic, lycopene, rosemany

Nrf2 plays dual roles in that it can protect normal tissues against oxidative damage and can act as an oncogenic protein in tumor tissue.
– In healthy tissues, NRF2 activation helps protect cells from oxidative damage and maintains cellular homeostasis.
– In many cancers, constitutive activation of NRF2 (often through mutations in NRF2 itself or loss-of-function mutations in KEAP1) leads to an enhanced antioxidant capacity.
– This upregulation can promote tumor cell survival by enabling cancer cells to thrive under oxidative stress, resist chemotherapeutic agents, and sustain metabolic reprogramming.
– Elevated NRF2 levels have been implicated in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in various malignancies.
– High or sustained NRF2 activity is frequently associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, poorer prognosis, and decreased overall survival in several cancer types.
– While its activation is essential for protecting normal cells from oxidative stress, aberrant or sustained NRF2 activation in tumor cells can lead to enhanced survival, therapeutic resistance, and tumor progression.

NRF2 inhibitors: (to decrease antioxidant defenses and increase cell death from ROS).
-Brusatol: most cited natural inhibitors of Nrf2.
-Luteolin: luteolin can reduce Nrf2 activity in specific cancer models and may enhance cell sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, luteolin is also known as an antioxidant, and its influence on Nrf2 can sometimes be context dependent.
-Apigenin: certain studies to down‑regulate Nrf2 in cancer cells: Dose and context dependent .
-Oridonin:
-Wogonin: although its effects might be cell‑ and dose‑specific.
- Withaferin A

Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
5156- PTL,    Rational Design of a Parthenolide-based Drug Regimen That Selectively Eradicates Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Stem Cells
- in-vitro, AML, NA
NADPH↑, PPP↑, NRF2↑, ROS↑, CSCs↓, selectivity↑, other↝,
1987- PTL,  Rad,    A NADPH oxidase dependent redox signaling pathway mediates the selective radiosensitization effect of parthenolide in prostate cancer cells
- in-vitro, Pca, PC3 - in-vitro, Nor, PrEC
selectivity↑, RadioS↑, ROS↑, *ROS∅, NADPH↑, Trx↓, PI3K↑, Akt↑, p‑FOXO3↓, SOD2↓, Catalase↓, radioP↑, *NADPH∅, *GSH↑, *GSH/GSSG↑, *NRF2↑,
1985- PTL,    KEAP1 Is a Redox Sensitive Target That Arbitrates the Opposing Radiosensitive Effects of Parthenolide in Normal and Cancer Cells
- in-vitro, Pca, LNCaP - in-vitro, Pca, DU145 - in-vitro, Nor, PrEC - in-vivo, NA, NA
ROS↑, NADPH↑, RadioS↑, radioP↑, Trx↓, *ox-Keap1↑, ox-Keap1↓, rd-Keap1↑, *NRF2↑, NRF2∅, NF-kB↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

Catalase↓, 1,   ox-Keap1↓, 1,   rd-Keap1↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   NRF2∅, 1,   ROS↑, 3,   SOD2↓, 1,   Trx↓, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

NADPH↑, 3,   PPP↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Akt↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

other↝, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

CSCs↓, 1,   p‑FOXO3↓, 1,   PI3K↑, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

NF-kB↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

RadioS↑, 2,   selectivity↑, 2,  

Functional Outcomes

radioP↑, 2,  
Total Targets: 19

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

GSH↑, 1,   GSH/GSSG↑, 1,   ox-Keap1↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 2,   ROS∅, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

NADPH∅, 1,  
Total Targets: 6

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
3 Parthenolide
1 Radiotherapy/Radiation
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
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:8  Target#:226  State#:%  Dir#:%
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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