Advancement in research of anti-cancer effects of toad venom (ChanSu) and perspectives

Miao Liu; Li-Xing Feng; Li-Hong Hu; Xuan Liu; De-An Guo

doi:10.15806/j.issn.2311-8571.2014.0024

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MODERN RESEARCH ON CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA

Year : 2015 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 2 | Page : 12-23

Advancement in research of anti-cancer effects of toad venom (ChanSu) and perspectives

Miao Liu, Li-Xing Feng, Li-Hong Hu, Xuan Liu, De-An Guo
Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of TCM, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China

Correspondence Address:
De-An Guo
Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of TCM, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203
P.R. China
Xuan Liu
Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of TCM, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203
P.R. China

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.15806/j.issn.2311-8571.2014.0024

Toad venom, called as ChanSu in China, is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) whose active components are mainly bufadienolides. ChanSu could exhibit cardiotonic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and, most importantly, anti-cancer effects. In the present review, reports about the in vitro, in vivo and clinical anti-cancer effects of ChanSu or its representative component, bufalin, were summarized. And, reported anti-cancer mechanisms of cardenolides, structure analogues of bufadienolides, were also introduced. Based on the results got from research of ChanSu/bufalin and the results from cardenolides, possible signal network related to the anti-cancer effects of ChanSu/bufalin was predicted. Furthermore, future potential use of ChanSu in anti-cancer therapy was discussed. Abbreviations: TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; AP-1, activator protein-1; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase; PAK, p21-activated kinase; CK2, casein kinase 2; PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; NF-KB, nuclear factor-KB; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Hsp27, heat shock protein 27; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; BECN, Beclin; ATG8, autophagy related 8; Bid, BH3 interacting domain death agonist; AMPK, adenosine monophosphate kinase; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; 4EBP1, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1; p70S6K1, ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kDa, polypeptide 1; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; AKT, protein kinase B; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; TIMP, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase; TJs, tight junctions; GSK3p, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; Rho A, ras homolog gene family, member A; MEKK3, MAPK/ ERK kinase 3; MKK7, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7; uPA, urokinase plasminogen activator; ER-a, estrogen receptor-a; TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; Mcl-1, myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1; BNPs, bufalin-loaded mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD nanoparticles; Bax, B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein; TACE, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; THM, traditional herbal medicine; ORR, objective response rate; PI3K, phosphoinositide-3-kinase; Bu-BCS-NPs, bufalin encapsulating nanoparticles.

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