Recent Advances in Improved Anticancer Efficacies of Camptothecin Nano-Formulations: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Camptothecin (CPT), a natural plant alkaloid, has indicated potent antitumor activities via targeting intracellular topoisomerase I. The promise that CPT holds in therapies is restricted through factors that include lactone ring instability and water insolubility, which limits the drug oral solubility and bioavailability in blood plasma. Novel strategies involving CPT pharmacological and low doses combined with nanoparticles have indicated potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the anticancer ability of nano-CPT in various cancers as a novel and more efficient natural compound for drug development. Studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Eligibility checks were performed based on predefined selection criteria. Eighty-two papers were included in this systematic review. There was strong evidence for the association between antitumor activity and CPT treatment. Furthermore, studies indicated that CPT nano-formulations have higher antitumor activity in comparison to free CPT, which results in enhanced efficacy for cancer treatment. The results of our study indicate that CPT nano-formulations are a potent candidate for cancer treatment and may provide further support for the clinical application of natural antitumor agents with passive targeting of tumors in the future.

Metabolomic comparison between natural Huaier and artificial cultured Huaier

“…Lycorine has good antitumor activity and can inhibit the growth of human osteosarcoma cells, melanoma A375 cells, HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells and non‐small cell lung cancer in many ways (Jiang & Liu, 2018; Li, Zhang, et al, 2019; Liu, Tang, et al, 2019; Yuan et al, 2020). Camptothecin is a broad‐spectrum antineoplastic drug, and its analogues are used in the treatment of colon, ovarian and small cell lung cancer (Ghanbari‐Movahed et al, 2021). Camptothecin is up‐regulated in cultured Huaier.…”

Metabolomic Insights Into Endophyte-Derived Bioactive Compounds

“…Camptothecin is a pentacyclic quinoline alkaloid with antineoplastic (that prevents or halts tumor growth) properties, obtained from Camptotheca acuminata and Nothapodytes nimmoniana. Camptothecin causes DNA damage (and hence, apoptosis) by binding to and stabilizing the topoisomerase-DNA complex ( Ghanbari-Movahed et al, 2021 ). Camptothecin and its analogs are synthesized by Fusarium solani , an endophytic fungus isolated from C. acuminata plant ( Kusari et al, 2009 ).…”

Mitochondria-Targeted Delivery of Camptothecin Based on HPMA Copolymer for Metastasis Suppression

“…CPT is a promising chemotherapeutic agent due to its potent inhibitory effect against DNA topoisomerase [ 1 ]. Although targeted delivery of CPT has been reported to improve its cytotoxicity, the anti-metastasis effect is poor [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Furthermore, recent studies disclosed that nuclear DNA damage by CPT could induce a massive release of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which could subsequently stimulate a strong immune response to initiate the intestinal diarrhea, a life-threatening side-effect of camptothecin [ 5 , 6 ].…”