Traditional Herbal Medicine Mediated Regulations during Head and Neck Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent neoplasms worldwide. It is well recognized that environmental challenges such as smoking, viral infection and alcohol consumption are key factors underlying HNSCC pathogenesis. Other than major clinical interventions (e.g., surgical resection, chemical and radiotherapy) that have been routinely practiced over years, adjuvant anticancer agents from Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) are proposed, either alone or together with conventional therapies, to be experimentally effective for improving treatment efficacy in different cancers including HNSCCs. At a cellular and molecular basis, THM extracts could modulate different malignant indices via distinct signaling pathways and provide better control in HNSCC malignancy and its clinical complications such as radiotherapy-induced xerostomia/oral mucositis. In this article, we aim to systemically review the impacts of THM in regulating HNSCC tumorous identities and its potential perspective for clinical use.

Phytochemicals targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for the prevention and treatment of HNSCC: A review

“…[ 1 ] 1 In contrast, the significance of phytochemical agents in the treatment of HNSCC has been highlighted due to their tremendous efficacy and fewer adverse side effects. [ 2 , 3 ] In recent years, rapid progress has been made in the pharmacological treatment of HNSCC. [ 4 ] Inhibiting the early phases of carcinogenesis or boosting the effectiveness of standard chemotherapeutic treatments are 2 ways that chemicals of herbal origin can be used as chemo preventives and therapeutics, according to several experimental research.…”

Z-Ligustilide Induces c-Myc-Dependent Apoptosis via Activation of ER-Stress Signaling in Hypoxic Oral Cancer Cells

“…Combination therapy refers to a combination of two or more therapies that typically contain one traditional therapy that has been found to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Natural compounds from traditional herbal medicine such as curcumin or ligustilide have the potential to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment ( 2 , 15 ). Thus, it is imperative to explore the molecular mechanisms of natural compounds and their effects on cancer.…”