Calculus bovis hijacks the tumor microenvironment in liver cancer cells in a multifaceted approach: A falling row of dominoes

Core Tip

Core Tip: Calculus bovis (C. bovis) is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine known for its various anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effects. C. bovis influences the tumor microenvironment by targeting immune-related pathways. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that C. bovis plays a crucial role in the regulation of M2-tumor-associated macrophages polarization and halting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study provides a solid and promising evidence concerning potential drug therapy in the treatment of liver cancer. In this paper, we shed light on the inevitable “cross talk” between the Wnt and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways, thus connecting angiogenesis, oncogenesis and liver fibrosis. C. bovis is deemed a priming molecule that sets the stage for a series of related and inter-connected events, such as angiogenesis, hepatocarcinogenesis and hepatic fibrosis. This process brings about the “domino effect” whereby one event uncovers another related event as a falling row of dominoes.