Abstract
Camptothecin (CPT), a natural plant alkaloid, has indicated potent antitumor activities via targeting intracellular topoisomerase I. The promise that CPT holds in therapies is restricted through factors that include lactone ring instability and water insolubility, which limits the drug oral solubility and bioavailability in blood plasma. Novel strategies involving CPT pharmacological and low doses combined with nanoparticles have indicated potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the anticancer ability of nano-CPT in various cancers as a novel and more efficient natural compound for drug development. Studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Eligibility checks were performed based on predefined selection criteria. Eighty-two papers were included in this systematic review. There was strong evidence for the association between antitumor activity and CPT treatment. Furthermore, studies indicated that CPT nano-formulations have higher antitumor activity in comparison to free CPT, which results in enhanced efficacy for cancer treatment. The results of our study indicate that CPT nano-formulations are a potent candidate for cancer treatment and may provide further support for the clinical application of natural antitumor agents with passive targeting of tumors in the future.
Highlights
Systematic research in the tumor field has indicated that a set of multifarious processes, including quick spreading and uncontrollable multiplication of abnormal cells, results in the formation of malignant tumors with the potential for metastasis [1,2]
Results of this study indicated that RLS/siPLK1+ CPT has a greater anticancer activity compared to either agent alone
Natural products with remarkable chemical diversity have been examined in the treatment of human malignancies and in cancer treatment
Summary
Systematic research in the tumor field has indicated that a set of multifarious processes, including quick spreading and uncontrollable multiplication of abnormal cells, results in the formation of malignant tumors with the potential for metastasis [1,2]. Natural compounds represent a valued resource in the discovery and development of novel drugs, mainly those used for cancer treatment [3,4,5], and they might act as a safe substitute for various synthetic drugs used in existing clinical therapies [6]. Screening for new agents has resulted in the detection of novel alkaloids that indicated potent apoptotic and antineoplastic capabilities in various cancer cells [8]. Alkaloids, such as vinblastine and camptothecin, have already been developed into antitumor drugs [9,10]
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