The Role of Natural Compounds in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Treatment

TL;DR

This paper reviews how natural compounds can help treat bladder cancer by targeting cancer cells and improving treatment effectiveness with fewer side effects.

Contribution

The paper systematically reviews the potential of natural compounds like terpenoids and polyphenols as novel therapeutic agents for bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Findings

Natural compounds inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in bladder cancer.

Terpenoids and polyphenols enhance therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity.

Natural products modulate the immune microenvironment to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Abstract

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) ranks among the most common malignant tumors of the urinary system, with alarmingly high incidence and mortality rates. Current clinical treatments face challenges such as strong chemotherapy resistance and limited response rates to immunotherapy, creating an urgent need for novel alternative therapies. Natural products, characterized by multi-targeted antitumor activity, low toxicity, and broad availability, have emerged as highly promising adjunctive or alternative strategies in cancer treatment. Extensive research has elucidated the antitumor activities of natural products, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and modulation of the immune microenvironment. What’s more, their bioactive components, such as terpenoids and polyphenols, can synergistically enhance therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity risks associated with traditional therapies. This review will examine the roles of terpenoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and other natural products in BUC treatment, to provide directions for future research.

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