Trace elements and metal nanoparticles: mechanistic approaches to mitigating chemotherapy-induced toxicity—a review of literature evidence

Ademola C. Famurewa*, Mina Y. George, Cletus A. Ukwubile, Sachindra Kumar, Mehta V. Kamal, Vijetha S. Belle, Eman M. Othman, Sreedhara Ranganath K. Pai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Anticancer chemotherapy (ACT) remains a cornerstone in cancer treatment, despite significant advances in pharmacology over recent decades. However, its associated side effect toxicity continues to pose a major concern for both oncology clinicians and patients, significantly impacting treatment protocols and patient quality of life. Current clinical strategies to mitigate ACT-induced toxicity have proven largely unsatisfactory, leaving a critical unmet need to block toxicity mechanisms without diminishing ACT's therapeutic efficacy. This review aims to document the molecular mechanisms underlying ACT toxicity and highlight research efforts exploring the protective effects of trace elements (TEs) and their nanoparticles (NPs) against these mechanisms. Our literature review reveals that the primary driver of ACT toxicity is redox imbalance, which triggers oxidative inflammation, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, and dysregulation of signaling pathways such as PI3K/mTOR/Akt. Studies suggest that TEs, including zinc, selenium, boron, manganese, and molybdenum, and their NPs, can potentially counteract ACT-induced toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated pathways, including NF-κB/TLR4/MAPK/NLRP3, STAT-3/NLRP3, Bcl-2/Bid/p53/caspases, and LC3/Beclin-1/CHOP/ATG6, while also upregulating protective signaling pathways like Sirt1/PPAR-γ/PGC-1α/FOXO-3 and Nrf2/HO-1/ARE. However, evidence regarding the roles of lncRNA and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ACT toxicity remains inconsistent, and the impact of TEs and NPs on ACT efficacy is not fully understood. Further research is needed to confirm the protective effects of TEs and their NPs against ACT toxicity in cancer patients. In summary, TEs and their NPs present a promising avenue as adjuvant agents for preventing non-target organ toxicity induced by ACT.

Original languageEnglish
Article number153964
Pages (from-to)1325-1378
Number of pages54
JournalBioMetals
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biomaterials
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • Metals and Alloys

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