The Potential Impacts of Tylophora Alkaloids and their Derivatives in Modulating Inflammation, Viral Infections, and Cancer

Cancer chemotherapies or antitumor agents mainly remain the backbone of current treatment based on killing the rapidly dividing cancer cell such as tylophora alkaloids and their analogues which have also demonstrated anticancer potential through diverse biological pathways including regulation of the immune system. The introduction of durable clinically effective monoclonal antibodies, however, unmasked a new era of cancer immunotherapies. Therefore, the understanding of cancer pathogenesis will provide new possible treatment options, including cancer immunotherapy and targeted agents. Combining cytotoxic agents and immunotherapies may offer several unique advantages that are complementary to and potentially synergistic with biologic modalities. Herein, we highlight the dynamic mechanism of action of immune modulation in cancer and the immunological aspects of the orally active antitumor agents tylophora alkaloids and their analogues. We also suggest that future cancer treatments will rely on the development of combining tumor-targeted agents and biologic immunotherapies.