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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Aug 10, 2014; 5(3): 348-358
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.348
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.348
Effects of psoralens as anti-tumoral agents in breast cancer cells
Maria Luisa Panno, Francesca Giordano, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, CS 87036, Italy
Author contributions: Both authors contributed to designing the scientific paper; Panno ML wrote most of the paper and studied a great deal of the literature that was also shared with the other author; Giordano F developed the introductory part, provided additional comments and ordered the references; Panno ML and Giordano F approved the final version.
Correspondence to: Panno Maria Luisa, Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Cubo 4 C, Arcavacata di Rende, CS 87036, Italy. mamissina@yahoo.it
Telephone: +39-0984-492927 Fax: +39-0984-492929
Received: March 25, 2014
Revised: May 14, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: August 10, 2014
Processing time: 129 Days and 14.2 Hours
Revised: May 14, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: August 10, 2014
Processing time: 129 Days and 14.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: This review examines the biological properties of coumarins by considering their beneficial effects in the prevention of some diseases and as anti-cancer agents. The attention is mainly focused on the effects of psoralens on human breast cancer as they are able to influence many aspects of cell behavior. More recently, it has been reported that these drugs in breast cancer cells are capable of antagonizing some metabolizing enzymes, to affect estrogen receptor stability and to counteract cell invasiveness as well as cancer drug resistance.