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Recent Advances in Antitumor Agents from Natural Source

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 750

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: natural products; cancer; phytochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relentless pursuit of effective cancer treatments continues to drive significant scientific research into the potential of natural sources. This Special Edition explores recent discoveries of anticancer agents originating from diverse biological realms, including terrestrial flora, microbial communities, and marine ecosystems. We invite you to explore the multifaceted mechanisms through which these natural compounds exert their effects. These mechanisms range from the direct induction of programmed cell death and the disruption of tumor blood vessel formation to the critical modulation of the complex tumor microenvironment and the circumvention of drug resistance. This Special Issue will determine the promise of these substantial natural leads and significant hurdles that continue to prevent their clinical application. These challenges encompass the intricacies of compound isolation, purification, structural elucidation, and the optimization of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: medicinal plants extracts, isolated compounds, natural molecules obtained from synthesis, and pharmacological and toxicological assays for cancer. Moreover, we underscore the particular importance of employing sustainable harvesting practices and prioritizing the conservation of biodiversity to ensure the long-term availability of these invaluable resources for future drug discovery endeavors.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Fabio Ferreira Perazzo(University of São Paulo) and assisted by Dr. Renato Farina Menegon(University of São Paulo).

Dr. Fábio Ferreira Perazzo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • cancer
  • medicinal plants
  • phytochemistry
  • fermented compounds
  • isolated compounds
  • tumor
  • in vitro
  • in vivo
  • clinical trials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 2669 KB  
Article
Antitumor and Antiangiogenic Effect of Tannic Acid in the Advanced Stage of Ehrlich Ascites Tumor in Mice
by Nada Oršolić, Martina Kunštić and Maja Jazvinšćak Jembrek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189070 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 609
Abstract
Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) is a rapidly growing, angiogenesis-dependent tumor characterized by high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF contributes to ascites formation, which supports tumor cell growth and the accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), primarily of the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype. [...] Read more.
Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) is a rapidly growing, angiogenesis-dependent tumor characterized by high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF contributes to ascites formation, which supports tumor cell growth and the accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), primarily of the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype. M2 macrophages promote tumor progression by secreting angiogenic and immunomodulatory factors such as VEGF, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). This study investigated the effects of tannic acid (TA) on tumor growth and angiogenesis in EAT-bearing mice, focusing on TAM–tumor cell interactions. We evaluated ascites volume, cell counts, macrophage activity, peritoneal angiogenesis and blood vessel density, concentrations of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-2/-9, blood biomarkers, and DNA damage using the comet assay. TA treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and angiogenesis by modulating TAM function. Specifically, TA inhibited VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-2/-9 expression, decreased M2 macrophage numbers, and enhanced the antitumor immune response, as shown by increased lymphocyte activation and favorable shifts in lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratios. Additionally, TA induced DNA fragmentation in tumor and blood cells, indicating cytotoxicity and potential induction of apoptosis. These findings suggest that TA’s inhibition of TAMs may be a promising strategy for treating tumors and other angiogenesis-related conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Antitumor Agents from Natural Source)
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