A. A. Al-Eidan

Exploring the anticancer potential of Costus speciosus: a comprehensive review

Abstract Costus speciosus is a medicinal plant with a long history in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, recognized for its diverse bioactive properties, including antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. This review highlights its therapeutic potential, particularly in cancer treatment, where its bioactive compounds exhibit cytotoxic effects against breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. These compounds have shown the ability to induce apoptosis, regulate the cell cycle, and inhibit cancer progression, offering a promising alternative to conventional chemotherapy with potentially fewer side effects. Additionally, C. speciosus demonstrates antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties, expanding its clinical applications. Despite its promising pharmacological profile, further research is required to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects and ensure the safety and efficacy of its various extracts for therapeutic use.

Proteomic Profiling of Endometrial Cancer Tissues Reveals Differential Expression of Proteomes in Obese Versus Non-Obese Patients

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecological malignancy worldwide. Obesity is reported to be associated with 50% of EC cases. Significant gaps remain in investigating specific molecular mechanisms behind the obesity-driven EC. Women diagnosed with EC undergoing total hysterectomy were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups: EC-obese with BMI > 29.9 kg/m2 (n = 10) and EC-Non-obese with BMI ≤ 29.9 kg/m2 (n = 10). Tumor tissues were subjected to label-free quantitative proteomic analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Differentially expressed proteins were identified and subjected to pathway enrichment and network analyses to characterize obesity-associated alterations. Proteomic profiling showed a significant dysregulation of 456 proteins: 171 upregulated and 285 downregulated. Proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum quality control particularly endoplasmic reticulum lectin 1 (ERLEC1), were reduced. Conversely, EC-obese demonstrated upregulation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), integrin-linked kinase (ILK), CTTNBP2 N-terminal-like protein (CTTNBP2NL), and lysyl oxidase homolog 1 (LOXL1), implicating activation of inflammatory pathways. Bioinformatic analysis showed downregulation of immune-related pathways, including neutrophil degranulation, complement activation in the EC-obese group. ROC analysis identified apolipoprotein(a), phospholipase B-like 1, CTTNBP2NL, and ILK as significant proteins that can differentiate between the obese and non-obese states. Our findings provide insights into obesity-associated proteomic changes in EC and highlight candidate proteins that can be used for molecular stratification after further validation.