Role of cyanotoxins in the development and promotion of cancer.

Cyanotoxins are primarily produced by different species of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, and have appeared to be environmental poisons that have various toxic effects on animal health, including humans. Cyanotoxins have been linked to the development and promotion of multiple cancers in recent studies. Important cyanotoxins, such as microcystins, nodularins, and cylindrospermopsin, have been found to play significant roles in developing and promoting various cancers.

Repurposing PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil and sildenafil as anticancer agent against hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting key events of glucose metabolism and multidrug resistance.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged as one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide and is caused due to contamination of diets with aflatoxin B1 and chronic viral hepatitis. Recent reports suggest that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) exhibits anticancer properties against several forms of cancer but till now has not been evaluated against HCC. We aimed to evaluate the anticancer property of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) tadalafil and sildenafil against aflatoxin B1 HCC.

Protective and therapeutic effects of sildenafil and tadalafil on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been classified as one of the most common forms of liver cancer occurring worldwide, and risk factors include hepatitis B & C virus, alcoholism, and dietary carcinogens like aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which is produced by fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Metabolism of AFB1 resulted into the formation of AFB1-exo-8, 9-epoxide which is largely responsible for HCC development. So far conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy has not provided much benefit in HCC, necessitating the need for newer treatment modalities.

Modulation of antioxidant enzymes, SIRT1 and NF-κB by resveratrol and nicotinamide in alcohol-aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and is associated with poor prognosis. The current study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of resveratrol when administered alone and in combination with nicotinamide against alcohol-aflatoxin B1-induced HCC. Results reveal that during the development and progression of cancer, there was a decline in the level of antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase (GR), antioxidant glutathione, and glutathione S-transferase, which is an enzyme of detoxification pathways.

SIRT1-mediated amelioration of oxidative stress in kidney of alcohol-aflatoxin-B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma by resveratrol is catalase dependent and GPx independent.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of primary liver cancer and dietary exposure to aflatoxins is a major risk factor of HCC. The current study aimed to assess the role of resveratrol and nicotinamide in renal toxicity during alcohol-aflatoxin-B1-induced HCC. The results revealed that resveratrol treatment normalized the level of urea, lipid peroxidation, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase, which were increased in HCC.