Potential role of tetrandrine in cancer therapy

Tetrandrine,a bisbenylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the dried root of Stephenia tetrandra S Moore,exhibits very broad pharmacological actions,including anti-tumor activity.The beneficial effects of tetrandrine on tumor cell cytotoxicity and radiosensitization,multidrug resistance,normal tissue radioprotection,and angiogenesis are most promising and deserve great attention.Tetrandrine has potential either as a tumoricidal agent or as an adjunct to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.to evaluate the potential clinical efficacy of tetrandrine for cancer therapy,more mechanism-based pharmacological,pharmacokinetic,and pharmacodynamic studies are required.