A new compound could fight breast cancer

Oridonin, a compound extracted from a plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine could fight Triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer and one of the hardest to treat (Pu’er People’s Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10-15% of breast cancer cases, but it behaves very differently from other types. It lacks the three receptors: estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 that standard breast cancer drugs typically target, which makes TNBC harder to treat and more likely to spread. With immunotherapy helping some patients but not enough, the global medical community has been searching for new, precise, targeted treatment options.

Oridonin: A natural compound with potential

Researchers turned to oridonin, a compound extracted from “Rabdosia rubescens”, a plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Using a network-pharmacology approach, the team mapped how oridonin might interact with cancer-related genes. Of 549 genes linked to the compound, 106 were specifically associated with TNBC. From there, they built a protein–protein interaction map, essentially a blueprint of how cancer cells communicate and survive.

Two major findings stood out:

1. The PI3K/Akt Pathway: TNBC’s Growth Engine

This signaling pathway is one of the biggest culprits behind uncontrolled cell growth in many cancers. Oridonin showed strong potential to interfere with it, particularly through AKT1, a key protein that helps cancer cells survive and multiply. Molecular docking, a computer simulation of how molecules physically bind, revealed a strong connection.

2. Proteoglycans: The Tumor’s Support System

Proteoglycans live on the cell surface and in the surrounding environment, shaping how cancer cells interact, migrate, and invade. Disrupting them could weaken the cancer’s ability to spread. Oridonin also demonstrated meaningful binding to other cancer-related proteins, all major players in tumor growth and resistance.

Why natural compounds matter

This study adds to a growing body of research exploring natural medicine as a source of cancer therapies. Unlike single-target drugs, natural compounds often hit multiple pathways at once, a potential advantage for complex cancers like TNBC.

Some earlier findings even suggest oridonin triggers stress responses inside cancer cells and activate TP53, a key tumor-suppressor protein. In other cancers, this mechanism has led to cancer-cell death, making researchers wonder if TNBC might respond the same way.

The research is still early. Oridonin is not a treatment yet, and more testing including lab experiments, animal studies, and clinical trials is needed. But the findings point to a compelling possibility: A natural plant compound might be able to hit TNBC at its survival pathways and potentially open the door to new, less toxic, more targeted treatments. For now, it is a starting point. But in a field where options are limited, even a starting point matters.