title: Rhus verniciflua stokes against advanced cancer: a perspective from the Korean Integrative Cancer Center.
abstract: Active anticancer molecules have been searched from natural products; many drugs were developed from either natural products or their derivatives following the conventional pharmaceutical paradigm of drug discovery. However, the advances in the knowledge of cancer biology have led to personalized medicine using molecular-targeted agents which create new paradigm. Clinical benefit is dependent on individual biomarker and overall survival is prolonged through cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effects to cancer cell. Therefore, a different approach is needed from the single lead compound screening model based on cytotoxicity. In our experience, the Rhus verniciflua stoke (RVS) extract traditionally used for cancer treatment is beneficial to some advanced cancer patients though it is herbal extract not single compound, and low cytotoxic in vitro. The standardized RVS extract's action mechanisms as well as clinical outcomes are reviewed here. We hope that these preliminary results would stimulate different investigation in natural products from conventional chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Cancer Center, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, 149 Sangil-Dong, Gangdong-Ku Seoul 134-727, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woncheol
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyunsik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kyungsuk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sookyung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seongwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jaehyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sehyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seongha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Wankyo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eo
authors.forename: Sanghun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029045:Rhus / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010936:Plant Extracts