?-caryophyllene and low-doses of doxorubicin against liver cancer cells: a “metronomic chemotherapy”
Cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma are primary liver cancers, both representing a growing challenge due to their increasing morbidity and mortality. A “metronomic chemotherapy”, consisting of the repeated administration of low and/or continuous doses of anti-neoplastic drugs, represents an alternative approach to the standard chemotherapy [1]. Numerous natural substances exhibited in vitro chemosensitizing features: in particular, the natural sesquiterpene ?-caryophyllene (CRY) has been proved to increase the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOXO) in leukemic cells [2].