Insight into norcantharidin, a small-molecule synthetic compound with potential multi-target anticancer activities

Abstract

Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a demethylated derivative of cantharidin, which is an anticancer active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, and is currently used clinically as a routine anti-cancer drug in China. Clarifying the anticancer effect and molecular mechanism of NCTD is critical for its clinical application. Here, we summarized the physiological, chemical, pharmacokinetic characteristics and clinical applications of NCTD. Besides, we mainly focus on its potential multi-target anticancer activities and underlying mechanisms, and discuss the problems existing in clinical application and scientific research of NCTD, so as to provide a potential anticancer therapeutic agent for human malignant tumors.

Norcantharidin Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NCTD-NLC) Suppresses the Viability of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells and Accelerates the Apoptosis

“…In addition to the described anticancer effects, cantharidin also exhibits the advantage of lower drug resistance, which is especially important when multidrug resistance is a common problem in anticancer therapy [ 23 , 24 ]. In order to improve the bioavailability of oral NCTD, it was prepared as a solid lipid carrier, and the free drug and nanoparticles have been assessed in vitro and in vivo, and the pharmacokinetics were evaluated.…”

Bioactive constituents of animal-derived traditional Chinese medicinal materials for breast cancer: opportunities and challenges

“…In addition, NCTD is an efficacious anticancer drug that has been applied for cancer therapy in China for many years. The underlying mechanisms of NCTD in various cancers have already been discussed in a previous review (Pan et al, 2020). Here, we mainly focus on its effects on breast cancer.…”

Two Zn(ii) coordination polymers with anticancer drug norcantharidin as ligands for cancer chemotherapy

“…S8 †). The anticancer effect of DMCA-Zn1 NPs and DMCA-Zn2 NPs is mainly dependent on the release of DMCA (a hydrolysed derivative of NCTD), which has the same comprehensive anticancer mechanism as NCTD, 45 including inhibiting proliferation, 46 inducing apopto-…”