Condition
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix most often caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus.
Overview
Aetiology
4 of the 80 Human Papilloma Viruses have been implicated in causing Cervical Cancer
Causes
The principal cause is persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact.
Pathophysiology
Cervical cancer is usually a squamous cell cancer, and less often an adenocarcinoma. It develops through progressive precancerous changes graded as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN):
- CIN 1 = Mild dysplasia
- CIN 2 = Moderate Dysplasia
- CIN 3 = Severe Dysplasia
Risk Factors
The main risk factor is infection with high-risk human papillomavirus. Additional factors that increase risk include smoking, early onset of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, immunosuppression, and long-term use of oral contraceptives.
Presentation
Symptoms
Early disease is usually asymptomatic. As it advances, it may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding (between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause), an unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse.
Assessment
Diagnostic Considerations
Cervical cancer is often asymptomatic, which is the reason regular screening is recommended. Regular pap smears will assess the possibility of cervical dysplasia and is the best form of prevention for this condiiton. If caught early, treatment has a high success rate. Both dysplasia and early invasive cancer are frequently asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur they may include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding (intermenstrual, postmenopausal, postcoital contact bleeding)
- Pelvic pain, leg pain, back pain
- Dyspareunia
- Hematuria
Diagnosis is made via PAP smear initially, later followed by colposcopy and biopsy.
Assessment
Differential Diagnosis
- Cervicitis
- Cervical polyps
- Endometrial cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
The Compounds
Research Compounds (7)
Individual molecules studied for cervical cancer. These are research findings, not supplements to take — each page states how far the evidence goes.
Ginsenoside Rh2
Dammarane triterpenoid saponin (protopanaxadiol group; monoglucoside)
Ginsenoside Rh2 is a minor protopanaxadiol-type saponin of ginseng — barely present in the raw root but enriched by steaming (red/black ginseng) and by deglycosylation of the abundant major ginsenosides. It is one of the most heavily studied minor ginsenosides in cancer research, with a large preclinical apoptosis/cell-cycle literature and heavy supplement marketing — but essentially no human oncology trial of the isolated molecule, and poor oral bioavailability throughout.
Gramine
Indole alkaloid (3-(dimethylaminomethyl)indole)
Gramine is a simple indole alkaloid that grasses and reeds make as a chemical defence — the toxic principle behind livestock poisoning on Phalaris pasture, and, in two recent studies, an antifibrotic and CDK2-targeting molecule whose renal work was motivated by Arundo donax's Ayurvedic use for urinary complaints.
Maackiain
Pterocarpan (isoflavonoid)
Maackiain is a pterocarpan phytoalexin from Sophora, Maackia, red clover and chickpea — the methylenedioxy structural cousin of medicarpin, best understood as a plant antifungal defence compound with a broad but entirely preclinical pharmacology record.
Methyl Jasmonate
Oxylipin (jasmonate signaling molecule)
Methyl jasmonate is a plant stress-signaling oxylipin and jasmine-aroma volatile (the methyl ester of jasmonic acid), best known biomedically for selectively killing cancer cells in preclinical studies by detaching hexokinase from mitochondria. It is primarily a plant hormone, agricultural elicitor and fragrance ingredient — not a supplement, with no human therapeutic use.
Osthole
Prenylated coumarin
Osthole is a prenylated O-methylated coumarin and the signature active of Cnidium monnieri seed (she chuang zi), also found in Angelica and other Apiaceae. Its marquee preclinical signals are bone formation and neuroprotection, but it is highly lipophilic with modest oral bioavailability, and every result to date comes from cell and animal models — there is no isolated-molecule human trial.
Tanshinone I
Abietane diterpene quinone (tanshinone; a phenanthro[1,2-b]furan-10,11-dione)
Tanshinone I is the smallest and least-studied of danshen's four major tanshinones — a lipophilic abietane diterpene quinone with its own anti-inflammatory (sPLA2, NLRP3) and anti-metastatic (Aurora A) literature, and a CYP1A2 behaviour opposite to its famous sibling tanshinone IIA.
Wogonin
Flavonoid (monomethoxy free-B-ring flavone)
Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) is a monomethoxy free-B-ring flavone characteristic of skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis / Huang Qin). Its signature action is positive modulation of the benzodiazepine site of the GABA-A receptor — a classic skullcap nervine mechanism that is anxiolytic in rodents without the sedation or myorelaxation of benzodiazepines — alongside well-documented anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral and pro-apoptotic anticancer activity. The evidence is almost entirely preclinical.