The Role of Plant-Derived Natural Products as a Regulator of the Tyrosine Kinase Pathway in the Management of Lung Cancer

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and current management options—including radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery—still result in low survival and an unfavorable outlook. Tyrosine kinases regulate cellular functions through tyrosine phosphorylation, and dysregulation via mutations, overexpression, or stimulation can drive oncogenesis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are an important targeted approach, particularly for non-small cell lung cancer, yet resistance and serious cardiovascular toxicities limit their long-term benefit. This review highlights the molecular role of tyrosine kinases, summarizes tyrosine kinase inhibitor mechanisms and resistance challenges in NSCLC, and evaluates plant-derived natural products as chemosensitizers and pathway modulators that may enhance TKI activity or help overcome resistance. A combined strategy may offer a novel and promising route for lung cancer management, supported by recommendations for further preclinical and clinical studies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages53

Reading Time2 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Keywords

1. Introduction

Plants as sources of medicinal compounds

Cancer as a multifactorial disease

Review The Role of Plant-Derived Natural Products as a Regulator of the Tyrosine Kinase Pathway in the Management of Lung Cancer Faris Alrumaihi 1, Arshad Husain Rahmani 1, Sitrarasu Vijaya Prabhu 2, Vikalp Kumar 3 and Shehwaz Anwar 3, * Academic Editors: Arianna Vignini and Monia Cecati Received: 29 May 2025 Revised: 22 June 2025 Accepted: 25 June 2025 Published: 30 June 2025 Citation: Alrumaihi, F.; Rahmani, A.H.; Prabhu, S.V.; Kumar, V.; Anwar, S. The Role of Plant-Derived Natural Products as a Regulator of the Tyrosine Kinase Pathway in the Management of Lung Cancer. Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47, 498 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)cimb47070498 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; [f_alrumaihi@qu.edu.sa](f_alrumaihi@qu.edu.sa) (F.A.) 2 Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirapalli 620001, India 3 Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Mohan College of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, Bareilly 243302, India * Correspondence: [shehwazanvar25@mipharmacy.org.in](shehwazanvar25@mipharmacy.org.in); Tel.: +91-96-3431-7870 Abstract One of the most common malignant tumors worldwide is lung cancer, and it is associated with the highest death rate among all cancers. Traditional treatment options for lung cancer include radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgical resection. However, the survival rate is low, and the outlook is still dreadfully dire. The pursuit of a paradigm change in treatment approaches is, therefore, imperative. Tyrosine kinases (TKs), a subclass of protein kinases, regulate vital cellular function by phosphorylating tyrosine residues in proteins. Mutations, overexpression, and autocrine paracrine stimulation can transform TKs into oncogenic drivers, causing cancer pathogenesis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have emerged as an attractive targeted therapy option, especially for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) . However, resistance to TKIs, and adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and sudden death, are among the most common adverse effects of TKIs. There is increasing interest in plant-derived natural products in the hunt for powerful chemosensitizer and pathway modulators for enhancing TKI activity and/or overcoming resistance mechanisms. This highlights the mechanism of TKs’activation in cancer, the role of TKIs in NSCLC mechanisms, and the challenges posed by TKI-acquired resistance. Additionally, we explored various plant-derived natural products’bioactive compounds with the chemosensitizer and pathway-modulating potential with TKs’ inhibitory and anticancer effects. Our review suggests that a combination of natural products with TKIs may provide a novel and promising strategy for overcoming resistance in lung cancer. In future, further preclinical and clinical studies are advised. Keywords: natural product; lung cancer; pathogenesis; tyrosine kinase; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-acquired resistance 1. Introduction Plants are essential sources of medications for treating a variety of diseases, and, since ancient times, people have used treatments based on medicinal plants to treat a wide range of diseases [1] . Numerous traditional and contemporary medical systems make use of various plant parts, such as stems, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and many more. Various plant extracts have been employed as fitness promoters in Saudi Arabia, India, Chi

FAQs

Why are tyrosine kinases important in lung cancer?

Tyrosine kinases regulate essential cellular functions by phosphorylating tyrosine residues. Mutations, overexpression, or stimulation can convert them into oncogenic drivers, contributing to cancer pathogenesis.

What are the limitations of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in NSCLC?

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors can be limited by resistance mechanisms and adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and sudden death.

How might plant-derived natural products improve lung cancer outcomes with TKIs?

The review discusses plant-derived bioactive compounds with chemosensitizer and pathway-modulating potential. Combining natural products with TKIs may enhance TKI activity and help overcome resistance, warranting further preclinical and clinical studies.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley