Chapter Eleven Phytochemical Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy: Strategies to Overcome Chemoresistance in Leukemic Stem Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment

Publication date: 2017 Source:International Review of Neurobiology, Volume 135 Author(s): Helen C. Owen, Sandra Appiah, Noor Hasan, Lucy Ghali, Ghada Elayat, Celia Bell Advances in scientific research and targeted treatment regimes have improved survival rates for many cancers over the past few decades. However, for some types of leukemia, including acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia, mortality rates have continued to rise, with chemoresistance in leukemic stem cells (LSCs) being a major contributing factor. Most cancer drug therapies act by inducing apoptosis in dividing cells but are ineffective in targeting quiescent LSCs. Niches in the bone marrow, known as leukemic niches, behave as “sanctuaries” where LSCs acquire drug resistance. This review explores the role of the bone marrow environment in the maintenance of LSCs and its contribution to chemoresistance and considers current research on the potential use of phytochemicals to overcome chemoresistance through the modulation of signaling pathways involved in the survival and death of leukemic clonal cells and/or leukemic stem cells. Phytochemicals from traditional Chinese medicine, namely baicalein, chrysin, wogonin (constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis; huáng qín; 黄芩), curcumin (a constituent of Curcuma longa, jiāng huáng, 姜黄), and resveratrol (a constituent of Polygonum cuspidatum; hŭ zhàng, 虎杖) have been shown to induce apoptosis in leukemic cell lines, with curcumin and r...
Source: International Review of Neurobiology - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research