Posted on 07/24/2025 6:13:38 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers worldwide and continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. While early detection through screening has improved outcomes, treatment options for advanced or recurrent disease remain limited. The five-year survival rate for late-stage cervical cancer is still less than 20%, underscoring the urgent need for better therapies.
The disease is most often linked to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but other factors also contribute to tumor progression—such as changes in the immune system, abnormal cell survival signals, and increased blood vessel formation that supports tumor growth. Current treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are effective in early stages but offer limited success once the cancer has spread.
A team of researchers has investigated the effects of andrographolide, a compound extracted from the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata. Known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, andrographolide has shown potential in previous cancer studies.
The role of andrographolide in cervical cancer had not been fully explored. To address this, the researchers used a hybrid tumor model known as CAM-PDX, which combines a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) system with a chicken egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) platform.
Andrographolide reduces tumor growth and blood vessel formation Using tumor tissue from a patient with cervical squamous cell carcinoma, the team found that andrographolide significantly reduced tumor size and suppressed the growth of new blood vessels. These effects were even stronger when the compound was combined with cisplatin, a standard chemotherapy drug.
Microscopic analysis showed that treated tumors had less organized structure and fewer blood vessels compared to untreated samples. The treatment also lowered levels of proteins involved in cell survival and angiogenesis, such as Ki67, BCL-2, and ERG, suggesting that andrographolide works by both halting cell growth and limiting blood supply to the tumor.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
If late-stage cervical cancer has a 20% survival rate, this could be something to look into.
Hmm — big pharma not gonna like this.
Bkmk
No, Big Pharma will identify the active compounds and select the best to tinker with to make a better, patentable chemical analogue with anticancer properties. Successful clinical trials, regulatory approval, and loads of advertising may then make for blockbuster profits. The process is cynical, almost entirely motivated by greed, but it works after a fashion.
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