Cell-cell communications: new insights into targeting efficacy of phytochemical adjuvants on tight junctions and pathophysiology of various malignancies.

Cancer is a cellular impairment disorder characterized by the loss of cell cycle regulation leading to aberrant cell proliferation. Cell-cell communication plays a crucial role in cell signaling which is highly disrupted in various malignancies. Tight junctions (TJs) are major proteins that regulate the proper communication, and the dysregulation of TJ proteins makes these tumor cells more aggressive, leading to tumor invasion and metastasis. Hence targeting TJs might be a novel insight towards addressing these highly invasive, metastatic tumors. Due to the prohibitive costs of treatments, side effects, and development of resistance, herbal medications comprising bioactive ingredients have become more popular for various human ailments. Unfortunately, the importance of natural compounds has significantly reduced due to the development of modern synthetic techniques to formulate drugs. However, the pharmaceutical industry that adopts chemistry-based drug development in combination with high throughput synthesis have not resulted in the expected drug productivity. Hence, the focus was shifted back to natural compounds in search of novel drugs with advanced technology to isolate the biologically active compound from the natural ones. The current review delivers the importance of TJ regulation, promoting it through phytochemicals to target malignant tumor cells.

Role of Lipoproteins in the Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Hypercholesterolemia and obesity are potential risk factors for the incidence of breast cancer, and their detection can enhance cancer prevention. In this paper, we discuss the current state of investigations on the importance of lipoproteins, such as low denisity lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL), and cholesterol transporters in the progression of breast cancer, and the therapeutic strategies to reduce breast cancer mortality. Although some research has been unsuccessful at uncovering links between the roles of lipoproteins and breast cancer risk, major scientific trials have found a straight link between LDL levels and incidence of breast cancer, and an inverse link was found between HDL and breast cancer development. Cholesterol and its transporters were shown to have significant importance in the development of breast cancer in studies on breast cancer cell lines and experimental mice models. Instead of cholesterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol, which is a cholesterol metabolite, is thought to promote propagation and metastasis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell lines. Alteration of lipoproteins via oxidation and HDL glycation are thought to activate many pathways associated with inflammation, thereby promoting cellular proliferation and migration, leading to metastasis while suppressing apoptosis. Medications that lower cholesterol levels and apolipoprotein A-I mimics have appeared to be possible therapeutic agents for preventing excessive cholesterol's role in promoting the development of breast cancer.