Asparagus officinalis combined with paclitaxel exhibited synergistic anti-tumor activity in paclitaxel-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cells

Abstract

Purpose Although paclitaxel is a promising first-line chemotherapeutic drug for ovarian cancer, acquired resistance to paclitaxel is one of the leading causes of treatment failure, limiting its clinical application. Asparagus officinalis has been shown to have anti-tumorigenic effects on cell growth, apoptosis, cellular stress and invasion of various types of cancer cells and has also been shown to synergize with paclitaxel to inhibit cell proliferation in ovarian cancer. Methods Human ovarian cancer cell lines MES and its PTX-resistant counterpart MES-TP cell lines were used and were treated with Asparagus officinalis and paclitaxel alone as well as in combination. Cell proliferation, cellular stress, invasion and DMA damage were investigated and the synergistic effect of a combined therapy analyzed. Results In this study, we found that Asparagus officinalis combined with low-dose paclitaxel synergistically inhibited cell proliferation, induced cellular stress and apoptosis and reduced cell invasion in paclitaxel-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. The combined treatment effects were dependent on DNA damage pathways and suppressing microtubule dynamics, and the AKT/mTOR pathway and microtubule-associated proteins regulated the inhibitory effect through different mechanisms in paclitaxel-sensitive and -resistant cells. Conclusion These findings suggest that the combination of Asparagus officinalis and paclitaxel have potential clinical implications for development as a novel ovarian cancer treatment strategy.

Paclitaxel and its semi-synthetic derivatives: comprehensive insights into chemical structure, mechanisms of action, and anticancer properties

“…However, a recent study on ovarian cancer cell lines MES synergistically demonstrating the effect of low-dose PTX with Asparagus officinalis revealed that the combination of congested cell proliferation and cell invasion triggered apoptosis. The mechanism of action was DNA-dependent damage, suppression of microtubule dynamics and associated proteins, and AKT/mTOR pathway interference [ 121 ]. Trastuzumab, a humanized anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 antibody drug, when given in combination with PTX enhanced the antitumor efficacy of trastuzumab-resistant in resistant and sensitive xenografted tumors.…”

Wild Asparagus Shoots Constitute a Healthy Source of Bioactive Compounds

“…Recently, the synergistic action of an A. officinalis extract combined with paclitaxel at low concentrations has been evidenced, which inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in paclitaxelsensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. Such treatment exercised DNA damage and suppressed microtubule dynamics [40].…”