Open AccessReview
Novel Anticancer and Treatment Sensitizing Compounds against Pancreatic Cancer
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Bioprocess and Biochemical Engineering Group (BioProChem), Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
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Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
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Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, UCL-Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Charles Bell House, 43-45 Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7TY, UK
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National Physical Laboratory, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Zhixiang Wang
Received: 10 May 2021
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Revised: 7 June 2021
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Accepted: 8 June 2021
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Published: 11 June 2021
Simple Summary
Pancreatic cancer is a disease of unmet clinical needs. Considering the poor prognosis and high treatment resistance of this devastating disease, the search for the development, understanding and characterization of potential treatments and/or treatment sensitizers is of clinical importance. The synergy between natural remedies and state-of-the-art cancer treatments has been poorly considered despite evidence of antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor capabilities. Moreover, natural chemical compounds have been the source of many approved drugs. This review collates novel and natural compounds explored for their preclinical anticancer, chemosensitizing and radiosensitizing effects for pancreatic cancer. Here, we highlight a number of natural sources in very early preclinical testing that may hold potential to enhance treatment sensitization, and in turn, reduce treatment resistance and toxicity via lowering treatment dose requirements.