Sains Malaysiana 52(12)(2023): 3511-3522

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5212-13

Zerumbone: A Potent Emerging Phytochemical with Anticancer Therapeutic Potential

(Zerumbon: Kemunculan Fitokimia Poten dengan Potensi Terapeutik Antikanser)

NUR AQILAH HUDA AHMAD JAMIL, SYLVIA CHONG HOONGLI, NURUL AKMARYANTI ABDULLAH, NORAINA MOHAMAD ZAKUAN, HAFIZAH ABDUL HAMID, MUHAMMAD ZULFADLI MEHAT, MANRAJ SINGH CHEEMA & NUR FARIESHA MD HASHIM*

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 19 July 2023/Accepted: 1 December 2023

Abstract

Breast cancer is a prevalent cause of global mortality, characterised by abnormal cell growth within the breast. These cells can spread to distant sites in the body through metastasis and one of the mechanisms that breast cancer cells use to metastasise is via invadopodia formation. Accumulated evidence has explained pathways that may contribute to the breast cancer cells metastasis including the ERK, SMAD-3, STAT3 and NF-κB pathways. The hypoxic conditions within tumours enhance their metastatic ability through HIF-1α upregulation. Despite advanced treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, these approaches are expensive and sometimes lack efficacy. Zerumbone, a compound extracted from Zingiber zerumbet, is known for its anti-cancer properties. It counteracts cancer cell metastasis by reducing cell migration, invasion, and proliferation by acting upon multiple signalling pathways. This review recapitulates the metastasis of breast cancer and its biomarkers. In addition, our review will also explore the impact of zerumbone, therapeutic roles and its mechanism of action in reducing breast cancer metastasis.

Keywords: Breast cancer; hypoxia; invadopodia; metastasis; zerumbone

Abstrak

Kanser payudara adalah penyebab lazim kematian global, dicirikan oleh pertumbuhan sel yang tidak normal dalam payudara. Sel-sel ini boleh merebak ke tapak yang jauh dalam badan manusia melalui metastasis dan salah satu mekanisme yang digunakan oleh sel kanser payudara untuk metastasis adalah melalui pembentukan invadopodia. Bukti terkumpul telah menjelaskan mekanisme yang mungkin menyumbang kepada metastasis sel kanser payudara termasuk laluan yang melibatkan ERK, SMAD-3, STAT3 dan NF-κB. Keadaan hipoksik dalam tumor meningkatkan keupayaan metastatik mereka melalui peningkatan HIF-1α. Walaupun dengan kehadiran rawatan lanjutan termasuk kemoterapi dan radioterapi, rawatan ini memerlukan kos yang tinggi dan kadangkala kurang berkesan. Zerumbon, sebatian yang diekstrak daripada Zingiber zerumbet, terkenal dengan sifat anti-kansernya. Ia menentang metastasis sel kanser dengan mengurangkan penghijrahan, pencerobohan dan percambahan sel dengan bertindak melalui pelbagai mekanisme. Kajian ini menyusun semula metastasis kanser payudara dan biopenandanya. Di samping itu, penyelidikan kami juga akan mengkaji kesan zerumbon, peranan pemulihan dan mekanisme tindakannya dalam mengurangkan metastasis kanser payudara.

Kata kunci: Hipoksia; invadopodia; kanser payudara; metastasis; zerumbon

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*Corresponding author; email: nurfariesha@upm.edu.my