Head and neck cancers (HNC) are aggressive, difficult-to-treat tumors that can be caused by genetic factors but mainly by lifestyle or infection caused by the human papillomavirus. As the sixth most common malignancy, it presents a formidable therapeutic challenge with limited therapeutic modalities. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, is appearing as a promising multitarget anticancer and antimetastatic agent. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin and its derivatives have the potential to affect signaling pathways (NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and EGFR) and molecular mechanisms that are crucial for the growth and migration of head and neck tumors. Furthermore, its ability to interact with the tumor microenvironment and trigger the immune system may significantly influence the organism's immune response to the tumor. Combining curcumin with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy may improve the efficacy of treatment and reduce the side effects of treatment, thereby increasing its therapeutic potential. This review is a comprehensive overview that discusses both the benefits and limitations of curcumin and its therapeutic effects in the context of tumor biology, with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms in the context of HNC. This review also includes possibilities to improve the limiting properties of curcumin both in terms of the development of new derivatives, formulations, or combinations with conventional therapies that have potential as a new type of therapy for the treatment of HNC and subsequent use in clinical practice.

A simple, sensitive and quick HPLC method was developed for the determination of ketoprofen in cell culture media (EMEM, DMEM, RPMI). Separation was performed using a gradient on the C18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and miliQ water acidified by 0.1 % (v/v) formic acid. The method was validated for parameters including linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of quantitation and limit of detection, as well as robustness. The response was found linear over the range of 3–100 μg/mL as demonstrated by the acquired value of correlation coefficient R2=0.9997. The described method is applicable for determination of various pharmacokinetic aspects of ketoprofen in vitro.

SARS-CoV-2 is a serious viral pathogen, and agents that inhibit its replication are in high demand. In the present work, we prepared two novel tryptanthrin derivates bearing a thiosemicarbazone moiety as potential antiviral agents. Both compounds displayed potent chelation activity against Fe(III/II) ion-associated COVID-19. The molecular docking results suggest that the compounds can display significant affinity towards SARS-CoV-2 papain-like proteases and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases. In addition, administering T8H-TSC can repress viral replication in the used model (Vero cells). Moreover, the therapeutic potential of the prepared compounds was predicted and analysed in terms of Lipinski’s rules, drug-likeness and drug score.

IL-6 signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of serious diseases, including chronic inflammation and cancer. Targeting of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by small molecules is therefore an intensively studied strategy in cancer treatment. We describe the design, synthesis, and characteristics of two new bis-pentamethinium salts 5 and 6 (meta and para) bearing indole moieties. Molecular docking studies showed that both compounds have the potential to bind IL-6R (free energy of binding −9.5 and −8.1 kcal/mol). The interaction with IL-6R was confirmed using microscale thermophoresis analyses, which revealed that both compounds had strong affinity for the IL-6R (experimentally determined dissociation constants 26.5 ± 2.5 nM and 304 ± 27.6 nM, respectively). In addition, both compounds were cytotoxic for a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines in micromolar concentrations, most likely due to their accumulation in mitochondria and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. In summary, the structure motif of bis-pentamethinium salts represents a promising starting point for the design of novel multitargeting compounds with the potential to inhibit IL-6 signaling and simultaneously target mitochondrial metabolism in cancer cells.

Head and neck cancers remain among the most challenging malignancies to treat and are often linked to lifestyle-related risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. These factors not only initiate tumor development but also promote chronic inflammation and activate key oncogenic pathways, including NF-κB signaling and pro-angiogenic cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Research into emerging therapeutic approaches has identified metal-based compounds-especially ruthenium(II) complexes-as promising alternatives to traditional platinum-based drugs. In this study, we report the design, synthesis and X-RAY characterization of a ruthenium(II) complex incorporating a quinoline-chalcone hybrid ligand, designed for enhanced anticancer and anti-inflammatory potential. The resulting compound, referred to as complex 2, demonstrated significant activity against HPV-negative head and neck cancer cell lines. It exhibited strong cytostatic, antiproliferative, and migrastatic effects, along marked suppression of NF-κB activation and a notable decrease in IL-6 and IL-8 levels due to direct interactions. These findings highlight complex 2 as a promising multitarget agent capable of targeting both tumor progression and the inflammatory microenvironment. Overall, complex 2 is a potential candidate for combination therapies targeting head and neck cancer.