Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer
Zi-Yun Wu, Kang-Yu Qiu, Yan-Jun Gai, Jia-Hui Wu, Bo-Xuan Zhou, Qing-Feng Shi Department of Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/quercetin-a-natural-ally-in-combating-breast-cancer-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850103022198194176 |
|---|---|
| author | Wu ZY Qiu KY Gai YJ Wu JH Zhou BX Shi QF |
| author_facet | Wu ZY Qiu KY Gai YJ Wu JH Zhou BX Shi QF |
| author_sort | Wu ZY |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zi-Yun Wu, Kang-Yu Qiu, Yan-Jun Gai, Jia-Hui Wu, Bo-Xuan Zhou, Qing-Feng Shi Department of Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Bo-Xuan Zhou, Email zhoubx@ncu.edu.cn Qing-Feng Shi, Email A1169627331@163.comAbstract: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide, exhibiting notably high incidence and mortality rates. Despite its high fatality, a comprehensive study that mechanism and treatment of herbal medicines has not yet been conducted. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits multi-targeted therapeutic potential against breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate and assess the mechanism and treatment of quercetin in breast cancer. We collected articles published within five years using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science with “breast cancer” and “quercetin” as keywords. Correspondingly, a total of 272 relevant articles were retrieved. Quercetin exhibits multi-modal therapeutic potential in breast cancer through its ability to orchestrate diverse molecular mechanisms, particularly in TNBC, such as targeting IGF1/IGF1R pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK/ERK cascades, and PTEN promoter demethylation. Critically, quercetin demonstrates synergistic activity with chemotherapy by overcoming drug resistance and reducing toxicity. Its therapeutic efficacy arises from concurrently inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. This profile positions quercetin as a strategic agent against breast cancer’s complex pathophysiology, effectively disrupting breast cancer malignant progression.Keywords: quercetin, breast cancer, apoptosis, drug carrier, combination therapy |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c569c7a8fa744a7a196b4c460b412dc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1178-2013 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c569c7a8fa744a7a196b4c460b412dc2025-08-20T02:39:38ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132025-07-01Volume 20Issue 191559177104961Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast CancerWu ZY0Qiu KYGai YJWu JHZhou BX1Shi QF2the First Clinical Medical Collegebreast cancer centerThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang UniversityZi-Yun Wu, Kang-Yu Qiu, Yan-Jun Gai, Jia-Hui Wu, Bo-Xuan Zhou, Qing-Feng Shi Department of Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Bo-Xuan Zhou, Email zhoubx@ncu.edu.cn Qing-Feng Shi, Email A1169627331@163.comAbstract: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide, exhibiting notably high incidence and mortality rates. Despite its high fatality, a comprehensive study that mechanism and treatment of herbal medicines has not yet been conducted. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits multi-targeted therapeutic potential against breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate and assess the mechanism and treatment of quercetin in breast cancer. We collected articles published within five years using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science with “breast cancer” and “quercetin” as keywords. Correspondingly, a total of 272 relevant articles were retrieved. Quercetin exhibits multi-modal therapeutic potential in breast cancer through its ability to orchestrate diverse molecular mechanisms, particularly in TNBC, such as targeting IGF1/IGF1R pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK/ERK cascades, and PTEN promoter demethylation. Critically, quercetin demonstrates synergistic activity with chemotherapy by overcoming drug resistance and reducing toxicity. Its therapeutic efficacy arises from concurrently inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. This profile positions quercetin as a strategic agent against breast cancer’s complex pathophysiology, effectively disrupting breast cancer malignant progression.Keywords: quercetin, breast cancer, apoptosis, drug carrier, combination therapyhttps://www.dovepress.com/quercetin-a-natural-ally-in-combating-breast-cancer-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJNQuercetinBreast cancerApoptosisDrug carrierCombination therapy |
| spellingShingle | Wu ZY Qiu KY Gai YJ Wu JH Zhou BX Shi QF Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer International Journal of Nanomedicine Quercetin Breast cancer Apoptosis Drug carrier Combination therapy |
| title | Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer |
| title_full | Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer |
| title_short | Quercetin: A Natural Ally in Combating Breast Cancer |
| title_sort | quercetin a natural ally in combating breast cancer |
| topic | Quercetin Breast cancer Apoptosis Drug carrier Combination therapy |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/quercetin-a-natural-ally-in-combating-breast-cancer-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wuzy quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer AT qiuky quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer AT gaiyj quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer AT wujh quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer AT zhoubx quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer AT shiqf quercetinanaturalallyincombatingbreastcancer |