Natural Products Inspired Modulators of Cancer Stem Cells-specific Signaling Pathways Notch and Hedgehog

Title:Natural Products Inspired Modulators of Cancer Stem Cells-specific Signaling Pathways Notch and Hedgehog

Volume: 24 Issue: 36

Author(s): Rocco Palermo, Francesca Ghirga, Maria Grazia Piccioni, Flavia Bernardi, Nadezda Zhdanovskaya, Paola Infante*Mattia Mori*

Affiliation:

• Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161,Italy

• Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, “Department of Excellence 2018-2022”, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena,Italy

Keywords: Cancer, cancer stem cells, natural products, drug discovery, Notch, Hedgehog, inhibitors.

Abstract: It is nowadays widely accepted that some tumors have a niche of cells endowed with stemness features, which may cause resistance to conventional anticancer therapies and relapse/recurrence of the malignancy. These cells are usually referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs) and, different from normal cancer cells, are rather quiescent. Targeting CSCs is thus a highly challenging but promising strategy to counteract tumor growth, and to develop innovative anticancer agents.

Here, we review the chemical, biological and multidisciplinary efforts that have been spent in targeting CSCsspecific signaling pathways Notch and Hedgehog (Hh) for anticancer drug discovery. In particular, the use of natural products as a valuable source of lead compounds or chemical biology tools is emphasized. Examples of natural products functionalization through semi-synthetic transformations or total syntheses, aimed at improving pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics properties of natural products in Notch or Hh inhibition, are provided as well.

Cite this article as:

Palermo Rocco , Ghirga Francesca , Piccioni Grazia Maria , Bernardi Flavia , Zhdanovskaya Nadezda , Infante Paola *, Mori Mattia *, Natural Products Inspired Modulators of Cancer Stem Cells-specific Signaling Pathways Notch and Hedgehog, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2018; 24 (36) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612825666190111124822