The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (14): 2132-2137.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.14.002

• Symposiums • Previous Articles    

Advances in the mechanism and therapeutic potential of Erianin⁃induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Jingshuo LI1,2,Shoushi LIU2,3,Hongwei. GUO2,3()   

  1. 1.The First Clinical Medical School,Guangxi Medical University,Nanning 530021,Guangxi,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging?related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education,Center for Translational Medicine,Guangxi Medical University,Nanning 530021,Guangxi,China
  • Received:2025-04-16 Online:2025-07-25 Published:2025-07-29
  • Contact: Hongwei. GUO E-mail:hongweiguo@gxmu.edu.cn

Abstract:

This review systematically elucidates recent advances in the therapeutic application of Erianin, a natural compound derived from Dendrobium, a traditional Chinese medicine, in the treatment of breast cancer, with particular emphasis on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, which presents significant clinical challenges due to limited therapeutic targets and continued reliance on conventional chemotherapy. Erianin exhibits notable anticancer potential through the induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Its primary mechanisms involve sensitizing cancer cells to apoptotic signals via activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, particularly through mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated cytochrome c release and subsequent activation of caspase-dependent pathways. At the molecular level, Erianin effectively modulates key oncogenic signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and NFATc1 cascades, thereby suppressing cell proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis. However, current research priorities center on investigating its synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic agents and assessing its radiosensitization potential to further enhance its clinical utility. Notably, Erianin demonstrates unique advantages in overcoming drug resistance in TNBC by modulating apoptotic regulatory networks, particularly through regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio, positioning it as a promising multi-target therapeutic candidate. Although existing evidence largely stems from in vitro and animal studies, future research should prioritize human clinical trials to validate its efficacy and safety, alongside pharmaceutical optimization strategies such as the development of nanodelivery systems and exploration of structural derivatives. This review systematically clarifies the core mechanism and therapeutic potential of pilanin-induced apoptosis, and provides theoretical basis for developing innovative therapeutic regimens for TNBC.

Key words: Erianin, triple-negative breast cancer, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation

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