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.