Abstract
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of differentiated thyroid cancers in Asian coastal cities, where the patients have increased risk of potentially high or excessive iodine intake. Given the high metastasis and recurrence of patients with BRAFV600E mutation, the mortality rate of thyroid cancer has recently shown an upward trend. A variety of therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have been used to treat thyroid cancer, but these therapies still have limitations, including postoperative complications, drug resistance, poor efficacy, or serious side effects. Recent studies have shown the potential of active ingredients derived from herbal medicine in inhibiting PTC via various cell signaling pathways. Some plant-derived compounds, such as apigenin, genistein, and curcumin, are also known to prevent and treat PTC. This article summarizes the recent advances in the structure-functional impact of anti-PTC active ingredients and their effects on PTC cells and tumor microenvironments with an emphasis on their challenges from basic research to clinical practice.
Highlights
E most common clinical therapies being used for managing Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) include surgery, chemotherapy, and physiotherapy, all of which are hindered by recurrence and metastasis
Studies have shown that approximately 95% of thyroid cancers originate from thyroid follicular epithelial cells, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC); in addition, a small amount is medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originated from parafollicular cells in the thyroid gland [2, 3]
E most common clinical therapies being used for managing PTC include surgery, chemotherapy, and physiotherapy, all of which are hindered by recurrence and metastasis
Summary
Flavonoids are a group of phenolic antioxidants with strong biological activity that have been widely used in pharmaceutical and food additives. Combining with apigenin and AKT inhibitors enhances the antitumor effects of radioiodine in both BRAFV600E-expressed rat thyroid cells and primary cultured PTC cells from TRβPV/PV mice [40]. Unlike those of apigenin, the effects of quercetin on thyroid cells have been disputed. Treatment with 50∼75 μM quercetin shows an excellent anticancer activity by inducing S phase arrest and apoptosis via Hsp and Caspase-3/PARP pathways in BCPAP cells [41, 42]. Silibinin is a natural hepatoprotective drug and has excellent antioxidant and anticancer properties It induces apoptosis, autophagy, makes cell cycle arrest, and inhibits onco-miRNAs which is involved in the PTC tumorigenesis [106]. Previous studies showed that it suppressed cell migration and MMP-9 expression by regulating the ERK pathway in thyroid cancer cells [47]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call