Research progress on the application of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating NF-κB signaling pathway for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

[ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE] Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system. Due to its rapid progression and nonspecific early-stage symptoms, OC poses a significant threat to women's health and life expectancy. Recent studies have identified the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway as closely involved in OC onset and progression. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers notable advantages, including safety, fewer side effects, and potential prolongation of patient survival. TCM has demonstrated efficacy in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, and modulating autophagy of OC cells via multiple pathways and targets.

[AIM OF THE REVIEW] This study comprehensively reviews the recent research progress on the treatment of OC with TCM, specifically focusing on the regulatory effects on the NF-κB signaling pathway, aiming to propose novel therapeutic strategies for OC management.

[METHODS] Relevant literature was systematically identified through databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wipro, and Wanfang. The search terms employed were "OC", "apoptosis", "NF-κB signaling pathway", "TCM", "herbal monomers", "herbal components", "herbal extracts ", and "herbal formulas".

[RESULTS] A total of 103 studies published between 2016 and 2024 were included following rigorous screening, and the results were summarized and analyzed. These findings indicate that TCM exerts therapeutic effects on OC primarily by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and its related molecular targets, underscoring significant potential in OC treatment.