The use of cisplatin as a chemotherapeutic drug is impeded by the development of drug resistance. Combination therapies of a chemosensitizer for cisplatin have been studied, but with little success, and the search for an effective combination therapy is continuing. Our earlier reports have shown that Zanthoxylum armatum DC. extract enhances the apoptotic effect of cisplatin in cancer cell lines. In this study, we purified and identified the bioactive phytocompound through bio-assay-guided purification, using column chromatography and HPLC. Chemical characterization using NMR and mass spectrometry revealed the compound as planispine A, with molecular structure C₂₅H₃₀O₆ and molecular weight, 426.16 g/mol. Planispine A was found to inhibit cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and to sensitize the cancer cells to cisplatin-augmented apoptotic cell death, in a caspase-dependent manner. A combination of planispine A and cisplatin induced S-phase cell cycle arrest, and reduced the expression of survival proteins such as cyclin D1. Interestingly, planispine A inhibits the Fanconi anemia pathway, as shown by reduced FANCD2 foci formation and FANCD2 monoubiquitination, which revealed the molecular mechanism of chemo-sensitization of cancer cells to cisplatin. Evaluation of this combination therapy in cisplatin-resistant tumors may lead to more efficient cisplatin treatment.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterised by the absence of expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Compared with other breast cancer subtypes, TNBC is generally associated with a more aggressive clinical course, in part because of its marked molecular heterogeneity. Consequently, the availability of effective targeted therapies remains limited. Chemotherapy continues to be a major component of treatment, although its clinical benefit may be constrained by toxicity and the development of drug resistance. This review examines the principal clinical challenges in TNBC, evaluates currently available therapeutic approaches and their limitations, and discusses important areas that remain insufficiently addressed. Particular emphasis is placed on recent advances in emerging treatment strategies. Together, these developments may improve our understanding of TNBC and support future research towards more precise and personalised therapeutic approaches.

SPIN.DOC was discovered as a transcriptional co-repressor of wingless related integration site (WNT) pathway. However, it has been found to be upregulated in various types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, renal papillary cell carcinoma. Whether SPIN.DOC functions as an oncogene or tumour suppressor gene remains uncertain. Here, we report that ectopic expression of SPIN.DOC in normal NIH3T3 fibroblast cells promotes cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion. Moreover, SPIN.DOC expressing NIH3T3 cells show increased spheroid formation, suggesting enhanced stemness and transformation potential. Immunofluorescence analysis using anti-β-Tubulin suggests that SPIN.DOC may induce, formation of tubulin-based microtentacles (McTNs), indicating epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition. In conclusion, our study helps in establishing that SPIN.DOC can function as an oncogene.