Anticancer Potential of Chalcone and its Derivatives Against Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Abstract

Clinical, physical, and molecular aspects of breast cancer vary widely. The expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), the progesterone receptor (PR), the human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 is used to classify breast cancer into luminal A, luminal B, triple-negative, and HER2 overexpression subtypes. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most challenging cancers to treat because of its complicated pathophysiology and uncertain prognosis. The absence of the primary targets of ER, PR, and HER2 expression status required by most breast cancer drugs complicates the treatment of TNBC. Based on historical data, chalcone chemicals and their derivatives are solid prospects for chemotherapeutic development. Chalcone (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-one) and its derivatives have shown anticancer activity in various developmental processes and signaling pathways in TNBC, including apoptotic induction, cell cycle arrest, suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), blockage of beta-catenin, and prevention of angiogenic and metastatic development. Chalcone also has good selectivity towards normal cells. Animal studies have also shown a reduction in tumor size. Therefore, chalcone compounds and their derivatives have good potential as anticancer.