About this Research Topic

Background

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death that is characterized by the accumulation of iron and lipid peroxidation in dying cells. The link between ferroptosis and cancer has stimulated interest in its potential use as a therapeutic target. Cancer is a complex process, and ferroptosis has been demonstrated to closely participate in various aspects of it, including initiation, development, metastasis, and others. Furthermore, studies have shown that cancer cells are more sensitive to ferroptosis than their corresponding normal epithelial cells in vitro. This highlights the existence of appropriate therapeutic windows, which would allow for selective induction of ferroptosis in tumors while sparing normal tissues. Based on this, the vital role of ferroptosis in immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has been proven, indicating the remarkable potential of ferroptosis in cancer treatment. Many traditional medicines and metabolites isolated from them like artemisinin and erianin, have shown promising effects in regulating ferroptosis and enhancing cancer treatment. However, the active metabolites of many of these botanical drugs and the precise mechanisms underlying their action have not been explored in detail. Moreover, many drugs based on this mechanism remain undiscovered. Identifying traditional drugs that influence cancer progression via ferroptosis and elucidating their potential mechanisms will require considerable time and effort for development and validation.

Traditional medicines have made significant contributions to the fight against diseases, including cancer. The 2020 version of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia contains 2,711 traditional medicines, making it an essential part of global medical resources. Recent studies have shown that many traditional medicines can effectively regulate ferroptosis, providing new possibilities for cancer treatment. However, many studies have focused only on the drugs' effects on disease phenotypes, overlooking the active metabolites and underlying mechanisms that restrict their clinical application. Therefore, identifying the active metabolites in traditional medicines, which can enhance their therapeutic effects, requires further effort. Additionally, a better understanding of the pathways through which traditional medicines regulate cancer progression via ferroptosis can expand the horizons of cancer treatment, paving the way for new strategies to combat this deadly disease. In many cases the lack of rigorous scientific experimental assessment has hindered the further development of traditional medicines, thus limiting their development and missing the opportunity for innovative cancer treatments.

This Research Topic aims to solicit original research articles, reviews, brief research reports, and clinical trials that focus on traditional medicines and their active metabolites in cancer and ferroptosis, with particular emphasis on exploring the active ingredients and regulation pathways. A comprehensive chemical analysis of highly active extracts using advanced techniques such as HPLC and HPLC-MS, based on purified compounds, is crucial. In the case of complex mixtures, attempts must be made to identify potentially active metabolites. Please note that all submissions to the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology using plant extracts or preparations must also adhere to the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here) to be considered for peer review, regardless of the specialty section, as a baseline standard for sample characterization. This research does not include purely theoretical studies on the potential effects of crude extracts or mixtures.

Subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Exploring the molecular mechanism and regulatory networks of traditional medicines or their active metabolites in cancer treatment based on ferroptosis.
• Identifying the active metabolites of traditional medicines in ferroptosis-related anti-tumor drugs.

Please note the following:

1) All studies must use a therapeutically realistic dose level, and the data must be reported on the basis of the amount of extract administered. Single-dose studies are not accepted unless they focus on a species/compound not yet studied in detail and can be justified on specific ethical grounds (e.g. the 4R rule - Reduce, refine, replace – responsibility, see the Four Pillars).
2) A detailed chemical profile of the extract and pharmacognostic definition of the botanical drugs used is essential, as defined in the ConPhyMP statement 2022 (see below).
3 ) In silico studies like network analysis or docking studies are outside of the scope of the section and of Frontiers in Pharmacology.
4) All the manuscripts submitted to this project will be peer-reviewed and need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here). Importantly, please ascertain that the ethnopharmacological context is clearly described (pillar 3d) and that the material investigated is characterized in detail (pillars 2 a and b).

Keywords: Ferroptosis, traditional medicines, cancer

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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