Wuweizisu B for cancer treatment - multitarget mechanisms to precision delivery strategies - Review

Sep 23, 2026

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Wuweizisu B (WSB), a bioactive lignan from Schisandra chinensis, is reviewed as a multi-target anticancer agent with therapeutic advantages over conventional treatments. The review details molecular mechanisms including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis via mitochondrial and death receptor pathways, suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and modulation of tumor immune microenvironment remodeling. WSB is discussed for synergistic potential with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, including reversal of multidrug resistance through STAT3, P-glycoprotein, and survivin signaling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Targeting digestive cancers with WSB: Molecular insights and therapeutic prospects

Dual targeting of DNA repair and metastasis: WSB inhibits ATR and ZEB1/E-cadherin signaling

Overcoming therapy resistance in prostate cancer: AR, PI3K/AKT, and STAT3 pathways

WSB anti-glioblastoma and synergy with Temozolomide/Rapamycin

WSB reverses BC chemoresistance via STAT3/P-gp suppression and immune remodeling

Targeting PI3K/Wnt pathways: antimetastatic effects on osteosarcoma

Synergistic potential with conventional therapeutics

Overcoming chemoresistance via apoptotic sensitization

Advanced delivery strategies for precision oncology

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE 56: 220, 2025 Wuweizisu B for cancer treatment from multitarget mechanisms to precision delivery strategies (Review) LINKUN ZHONG 1* , YUTONG LI 1,2* , CHIZHUAI LIU 1 , ZIXIN CHEN 1 , JIANHANG MIAO 1,2 , XINGYU SONG 1,2 , ZHIBIN HUANG 1,2 and YIQI TANG 1,2 1 The Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, P.R. China; 2 The First School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524023, P.R. China Received June 18, 2025; Accepted September 2, 2025 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2025.5661 Abstract. Wuweizisu B (WSB), a bioactive lignan derived from Schisandra chinensis, has shown promise as a multi‑target anticancer agent with unique therapeutic advantages over conventional therapies . The present review systematically examined the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti‑ cancer effects of WSB, including induction of cell cycle arrest, promotion of apoptosis through mitochondrial and death receptor pathways, inhibition of epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and remodeling of the tumor immune microenviron‑ ment. WSB exhibits synergistic potential with chemotherapy Correspondence to: Dr Yiqi Tang or Professor Zhibin Huang, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, 2 Wenming East Road, Xiashan, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524023, P.R. China E‑mail: [2021509974@qq.com](2021509974@qq.com) E‑mail: [625944657@qq.com](625944657@qq.com) *Contributed equally Abbreviations: 5‑FU, 5‑Fluorouracil; AR, androgen receptor; BC, breast cancer; CAC, colitis‑associated cancer; CCA, cholangiocarcinoma; CRC, colorectal cancer; DTX, docetaxel; DOX, doxorubicin; EMT, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition; ER, estrogen receptor; GA, gomisin A; GBC, gallbladder cancer; GC, gastric cancer; GD, gomisin D; GG, gomisin G; GJ, gomisin J; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; IARC, International Agency for Research on Cancer; LC, lung cancer; LEN, lenvatinib; MDR, multidrug resistance; MET, mesenchymal‑epithelial transition; mesenchymal‑epithelial transition factor; NAFLD, non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; NSCLC, non‑small cell lung cancer; PC, prostate cancer; P‑gp, P‑glycoprotein; Rb, retinoblastoma protein; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SA, Schisandrol A; SAL, Schisanhenol; SC, Schisandrin C; Sch A, Schisandrin A; STA, Schisantherin A; TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine; TME, tumor microenvironment; TNBC, triple‑negative breast cancer; WSB, Wuweizisu B Key words: Wuweizisu B, multi‑target therapy, cancer microenvironment, Traditional Chinese Medicine, drug resistance reversal and immunotherapy and can reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) by modulating key pathways such as STAT3, P‑glycoprotein (P‑gp), and survivin . To address pharmaco‑ kinetic limitations, particularly low oral bioavailability, the present review discussed innovative delivery strategies such as nanotechnology‑based formulations to enhance tumor targeting. Thus, with its pleiotropic mechanisms, low toxicity profile, and broad‑spectrum efficacy across multiple cancers, the WSB merits further investigation as a complementary oncology therapeutic. However, its clinical translation faces challenges, including potential hepatotoxicity and lack of clinical validation. The present review consolidated current knowledge of WSB's anticancer potential while providing aroadmap for clinical development, emphasizing the need for biomarker‑driven trials and precision delivery systems to fully realize its therapeutic value in personalized medicine. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Targeting digestive cancers with WSB: Molecular insightsand therapeutic prospects 3. Dual targeting of DNA repair and metastasis: WSB inhibits ATR and ZEB1/E‑cadherin signaling in LC 4. Overcoming therapy resistance in prostate cancer (PC): WSB's effects on the androgen receptor (AR), PI3K/AKT, and STAT3 pathways 5. WSB anti‑glioblastoma via apopto

FAQs

What is Wuweizisu B and where does it come from?

Wuweizisu B (WSB) is a bioactive lignan derived from Schisandra chinensis.

How does WSB exert anticancer effects at the molecular level?

WSB induces cell cycle arrest, promotes apoptosis through mitochondrial and death receptor pathways, and inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition while remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment.

What delivery and clinical translation challenges are discussed for WSB?

The review highlights pharmaco-kinetic limitations, particularly low oral bioavailability, and discusses nanotechnology-based delivery strategies. It also notes challenges such as potential hepatotoxicity and limited clinical validation, emphasizing biomarker-driven trials and precision delivery systems.

Sep 23, 2026

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