SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Bor Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 11 Sayı: 1

Evaluation Of Boron's Anticancer Effect

Borun Antikanser Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

Seda Kuşoğlu Gültekin(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-0674-1582
Şeyma Yektar(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0003-3814-6806
İrem Olgun(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-6201-4747
Pages
31–39
Publication Date
2026-03-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

However, in order to translate this potential into clinical practice, comprehensive in vitro, in vivo, and clinical researches involving boron and boron nanoparticles are required.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Boron, which is a micronutrient, has various important biological functions in plants, animals, and humans.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Cancer, the disease of our time with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, is a genomic disease that profoundly affects quality of life.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:However, in order to translate this potential into clinical practice, comprehensive in vitro, in vivo, and clinical researches involving boron and boron nanoparticles are required.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:antikanser etki · apoptoz · bor

Abstract

Boron, which is a micronutrient, has various important biological functions in plants, animals, and humans. Cancer, the disease of our time with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, is a genomic disease that profoundly affects quality of life. Despite the discovery of new drugs and new treatment methods thanks to advancing technology, the disease's recovery and survival rates have not yet reached the desired levels. Additionally, due to the side effects, drug resistances, and toxicities caused by the drugs used, researchers continue their relentless search for natural products that can be used in cancer treatment and/or supportive treatment. Recent studies have shown that boron exhibits anticancer effects on certain types of cancer, exerting this effect by influencing the migration, proliferation, and survival properties of cancer cells. In addition to boron's biological effects, advances in nanotechnology have also enabled boron to be transformed into more targeted, controlled, and powerful treatment approaches in the form of nanoparticles. Within the scope of this review, the effects of boron on cancer cell lines have been evaluated in the literature, and it has been emphasized that both elemental boron and boron-based nanotechnological platforms hold promising potential for cancer treatment. However, in order to translate this potential into clinical practice, comprehensive in vitro, in vivo, and clinical researches involving boron and boron nanoparticles are required.

Özet

Bor, silisyum, germanyum, arsenik, antimon ve tellür içeren bir metaloid elementtir. Bir mikro besin maddesi olan bor, bitkilerde, hayvanlarda ve insanlarda çeşitli önemli biyolojik işlevlere sahiptir. Dünya çapında yüksek görülme sıklığı ve ölüm oranlarına sahip çağımızın hastalığı kanser, yaşam kalitesini derinden etkileyen genomik bir hastalıktır. İlerleyen teknoloji sayesinde yeni ilaçlar ve yeni tedavi yöntemleri keşfedilmesine rağmen, hastalığın iyileşme ve sağ kalım oranları henüz istenen seviyelere ulaşamamıştır. Ayrıca, kullanılan ilaçların neden olduğu yan etkiler, ilaç dirençleri ve toksisiteler nedeniyle araştırmacılar kanser tedavisinde ve/veya tedaviyi desteklemede kullanılabilecek doğal ürünler için durmaksızın arayışlarını sürdürmektedir. Son çalışmalar, borun belirli kanser türleri üzerinde kanser hücrelerinin göçünü, çoğalmasını ve sağ kalım özelliklerini etkileyerek antikanser etkiler gösterdiğini göstermiştir. Borun biyolojik etkilerine ek olarak, nanoteknolojideki gelişmeler borun nanopartiküller formunda daha hedefli, kontrollü ve güçlü tedavi yaklaşımlarına dönüştürülmesini de sağlamıştır. Bu derleme kapsamında, borun kanser hücre hatları üzerindeki etkileri literatürde değerlendirilmiş ve hem elementel bor hem de bor bazlı nanoteknolojik platformların kanser tedavisi için umut verici bir potansiyele sahip olduğu vurgulanmıştır. Ancak, bu potansiyelin klinik uygulamaya dönüştürülebilmesi için bor ve bor nanopartiküllerini içeren kapsamlı in vitro, in vivo ve klinik araştırmalara ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Gültekin, S. K., Yektar, Ş., Olgun, İ., *, S. K. G. (2026). Evaluation Of Boron's Anticancer Effect. Bor Dergisi, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 1, 31–39. https://doi.org/10.30728/boron.1829292

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (64)

  1. Pizzorno, L. (2015). Nothing boring about boron. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 14(4), 35-48.
  2. Khaliq, H., Juming, Z., & Ke-Mei, P. (2018). The physiological role of boron on health. Biological Trace Element Research, 186(1), 31-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1284-3
  3. Rainey, C. J., Nyquist, L. A., Christensen, R. E., Strong, P. L., Culver, B. D., & Coughlin, J. R. (1999). Daily boron intake from the American diet. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 99(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00085-1
  4. Alexandrov, L. B., Nik-Zainal, S., Wedge, D. C., Aparicio, S. A., Behjati, S., Biankin, A. V.,. & Stratton, M. R. (2013). Signatures of mutational processes in human cancer. Nature, 500(7463), 415-421. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12477
  5. Mattiuzzi, C., & Lippi, G. (2019). Current cancer epidemiology. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 9(4), 217-222. https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.191008.001
  6. Negrini, S., Gorgoulis, V. G., & Halazonetis, T. D. (2010). Genomic instability-An evolving hallmark of cancer. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 11(3), 220-228. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2858
  7. Vogelstein, B., Papadopoulos, N., Velculescu, V. E., Zhou, S., Diaz Jr, L. A., & Kinzler, K. W. (2013). Cancer genome landscapes. Science, 339(6127), 1546-1558. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1235122
  8. Guan, X. (2015). Cancer metastases: Challenges and opportunities. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, 5(5), 402- 418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2015.07.005
  9. Scorei, R. I., & Popa, R. (2010). Boron-containing compounds as preventive and chemotherapeutic agents for cancer. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 10(4), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.2174/187152010791162289
  10. Cui, Y., Winton, M. I., Zhang, Z. F., Rainey, C., Marshall, J., De Kernion, J. B., & Eckhert, C. D. (2004). Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk. Oncology Reports, 11(4), 887-892. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.11.4.887
  11. Lawler, A. (1995). Brookhaven prepares for boron trials. Science, 267(5200), 956-956. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7695774
  12. Yinghuai, Z., & Hosmane, N. S. (2013). Applications and perspectives of boron-enriched nanocomposites in cancer therapy. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 5(6), 705-714. https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.13.47
  13. Ferreira, T. H., Marino, A., Rocca, A., Liakos, I., Nitti, S., Athanassiou, A., … & Ciofani, G. (2015). Folate-grafted boron nitride nanotubes: possible exploitation in cancer therapy. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 481(1-2), 56-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.01.048
  14. Mahabir, S., Spitz, M. R., Barrera, S. L., Dong, Y. Q., Eastham, C., & Forman, M. R. (2008). Dietary boron and hormone replacement therapy as risk factors for lung cancer in women. American Journal of Epidemiology, 167(9), 1070-1080. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwn021
  15. Litwin, M. S., & Tan, H. J. (2017). The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer: A review. Jama, 317(24), 2532-2542. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.7248
  16. Rawla, P. (2019). Epidemiology of prostate cancer. World Journal of Oncology, 10(2), 63-89. https://doi.org/10.14740/wjon1191
  17. Barranco, W. T., & Eckhert, C. D. (2006). Cellular changes in boric acid-treated DU-145 prostate cancer cells. British Journal of Cancer, 94(6), 884-890. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6603009
  18. Barranco, W. T., & Eckhert, C. D. (2004). Boric acid inhibits human prostate cancer cell proliferation. Cancer Letters, 216(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2004.06.001
  19. Hacioglu, C., Kar, F., Kacar, S., Sahinturk, V., & Kanbak, G. (2020). High concentrations of boric acid trigger oxidative stress, apoptotic pathways and morphological alterations in DU-145 prostate cancer cell line. Biological Trace Element Research, 193(2), 400-409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01739-x
  20. Akyolcu, N., Özhanlı, Y., & Kandemir, D. (2019). Recent developments in breast cancer. Archives of Health Science and Research, 6(3), 583-594. https://doi.org/10.5152/hsp.2019.440012
  21. Simsek, F., Inan, S., & Korkmaz, M. (2019). An in vitro study in which new boron derivatives maybe an option for breast cancer treatment. Eurasian Journal of Medical Oncology, 3(1), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.14744/ejmo.2018.0020
  22. Bayram, D., Özgöçmen, M., Çelik, D. A., Sarman, E., & Sevimli, M. (2024). Does boric acid inhibit cell proliferation on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in monolayer and spheroid cultures by using apoptosis pathways? Biological Trace Element Research, 202(5), 2008-2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03810-0
  23. Keyif, B., & Hacioglu, C. (2025). Boric acid suppresses cell survival by triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy in cervical cancers. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 29(14), e70740. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.70740
  24. Tanoue, L. T., Tanner, N. T., Gould, M. K., & Silvestri, G. A. (2015). Lung cancer screening. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 191(1), 19-33. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201410-1777CI
  25. Minna, J. D., Roth, J. A., & Gazdar, A. F. (2002). Focus on lung cancer. Cancer Cell, 1(1), 49-52.
  26. Cebeci, E., Yüksel, B., & Şahin, F. (2022). Anti-cancer effect of boron derivatives on small-cell lung cancer. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 70, 126923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126923
  27. Stepanenko, A. A., & Chekhonin, V. P. (2018). Recent advances in oncolytic virotherapy and immunotherapy for glioblastoma: a glimmer of hope in the search for an effective therapy? Cancers, 10(12), 492. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers10120492
  28. McKinnon, C., Nandhabalan, M., Murray, S. A., & Plaha, P. (2021). Glioblastoma: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. BMJ, 374. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1560
  29. Naser, R., Dilabazian, H., Bahr, H., Barakat, A., & El-Sibai, M. (2022). A guide through conventional and modern cancer treatment modalities: A specific focus on glioblastoma cancer therapy. Oncology Reports, 48(5), 190. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2022.8405
  30. Aydin, H. E., Gunduz, M. K., Kizmazoglu, C., Kandemir, T., & Arslantas, A. (2021). Cytotoxic effect of boron application on glioblastoma cells. Turkish Neurosurgery, 31(2), 206-210. https://doi.org/10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.30316-20.1
  31. Turkez, H., Arslan, M. E., Tatar, A., & Mardinoglu, A. (2021). Promising potential of boron compounds against glioblastoma: In vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer studies. Neurochemistry International, 149, 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105137
  32. Turkez, H., Alper, F., Bayram, C., Baba, C., Yıldız, E., Saracoglu, M.,. & Hacımüftüoğlu, A. (2025). Boric acid impedes glioblastoma growth in a rat model: insights from multi-approach analysis. Medical Oncology, 42(2), 47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-025-02600-z
  33. Islam, M. R., Akash, S., Rahman, M. M., Nowrin, F. T., Akter, T., Shohag, S.,. & Simal-Gandara, J. (2022). Colon cancer and colorectal cancer: Prevention and treatment by potential natural products. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 368, 110170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110170
  34. Menon, G., & Cagir, B. (Ed.). (2025). Colon cancer. StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470380/
  35. Albuz, Ö., Dülger, D., Tunali, B. Ç., Aydin, F., Yalçin, S., & Türk, M. (2019). Effects of B2O3 (boron trioxide) on colon cancer cells: Our first-step experience and in vitro results. Turkish Journal of Biology, 43(3), 209-223. https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1901-34
  36. Özyarım, S. C., & Çoban, F. K. (2021). Investigation of apoptotic and antiproliferative effects of boron on CCL-233 human colon cancer cells. Cell Journal, 23(4), 429-434. https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2021.7259
  37. Çiğel, A., Bilgin, M. D., & Ek, R. O. (2020). Evaluation of the anti-cancer and biological effects of boric acid on colon cancer cell line. Meandros Medical and Dental Journal, 21(3), 238-243. https://doi.org/10.4274/meandros.galenos.2020.82246
  38. Tülüce, Y., Masseh, H. D. I., Koyuncu, İ., Kiliç, A., Durgun, M., & Özkol, H. (2019). Novel fluorine-boron hybrid complex as potential antiproliferative drugs on colorectal cancer cell line. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 19(5), 627-637. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871520619666190117142353
  39. McGlynn, K. A., Petrick, J. L., & El-Serag, H. B. (2021). Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology, 73, 4-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.31288
  40. Singal, A. G., Llovet, J. M., Yarchoan, M., Mehta, N., Heimbach, J. K., Dawson, L. A.,. & Taddei, T. H. (2023). AASLD Practice Guidance on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology, 78(6), 1922-1965. https://doi.org/10.1097/HEP.0000000000000466
  41. Yang, J. D., & Roberts, L. R. (2010). Hepatocellular carcinoma: a global view. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 7(8), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2010.100
  42. Gündüz, M. K., Bolat, M., Kaymak, G., Berikten, D., & Köse, D. A. (2022). Therapeutic effects of newly synthesized boron compounds (BGM and BGD) on hepatocellular carcinoma. Biological Trace Element Research, 200(1), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02647-9
  43. Teicher, B. A., Ara, G., Herbst, R., Palombella, V. J., & Adams, J. (1999). The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 in cancer therapy. Clinical Cancer Research, 5(9), 2638-2645.
  44. Sunwoo, J. B., Chen, Z., Dong, G., Yeh, N., Bancroft, C. C., Sausville, E.,. & Van Waes, C. (2001). Novel proteasome inhibitor PS-341 inhibits activation of nuclear factor-κB, cell survival, tumor growth, and angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 7(5), 1419-1428.
  45. Lu, G., Punj, V., & Chaudhary, P. M. (2008). Proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cell lines derived from Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors and synergizes with TRAIL. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 7(4), 603-608. https://doi.org/10.4161/cbt.7.4.5564
  46. Nawrocki, S. T., Carew, J. S., Pino, M. S., Highshaw, R. A., Andtbacka, R. H., Dunner Jr, K.,. & McConkey, D. J. (2006). Aggresome disruption: A novel strategy to enhance bortezomib-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer Research, 66(7), 3773-3781. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2961
  47. Davies, A. M., Lara, P. N., Mack, P. C., & Gandara, D. R. (2007). Incorporating bortezomib into the treatment of lung cancer. Clinical Cancer Research, 13(15), 4647s-4651s. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-0334
  48. Dick, L. R., & Fleming, P. E. (2010). Building on bortezomib: Second-generation proteasome inhibitors as anti-cancer therapy. Drug Discovery Today, 15(5-6), 243-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2010.01.008
  49. Sogbein, O., Paul, P., Umar, M., Chaari, A., Batuman, V., & Upadhyay, R. (2024). Bortezomib in cancer therapy: Mechanisms, side effects, and future proteasome inhibitors. Life Sciences, 358, 123125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2024.123125
  50. Oguzkan, S. B., Turkez, H., Ugras, H. I., Tatar, A., & Mardinoglu, A. (2023). Oxidative, Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Damage Potential of Novel Borenium and Borinium Compounds. Inorganics, 11(8), 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11080324
  51. Zhang, S., Xiao, X., Yi, Y., Wang, X., Zhu, L., Shen, Y.,. & Wu, C. (2024). Tumor initiation and early tumorigenesis: molecular mechanisms and interventional targets. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 9(1), 149. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01848-7
  52. Murilla, R. M., Edilo, G. G., Budlayan, M. L. M., & Auxtero, E. S. (2025). Boron delivery agents in BNCT: A mini review of current developments and emerging trends. Nano Transmed, 4, 100081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntm.2025.100081
  53. Zhang, X., Lin, Y., Hosmane, N. S., & Zhu, Y. (2023). Nanostructured boron agents for boron neutron capture therapy: a review of recent patents. Medical Review, 3(5), 425-443. https://doi.org/10.1515/mr-2023-0013
  54. Ailuno, G., Balboni, A., Caviglioli, G., Lai, F., Barbieri, F., Dellacasagrande, I.,. & Baldassari, S. (2022). Boron vehiculating nanosystems for neutron capture therapy in cancer treatment. Cells, 11(24), 4029. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11244029
  55. Li, X., Hanagata, N., & Golberg, D. (2025). Boron nitride nanomaterials for cancer therapy: Tailor-made strategies. Journal of Materials Research, 40(14), 2039-2055. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-025-01633-4
  56. Mutlag, F., Elaibi, H., Halvacı, E., & Şen, F. (2023). Nanostructured boron compounds for biomedical applications: Drug delivery, imaging, and cancer therapy. International Journal of Boron Science and Nanotechnology, (3), 15-27.
  57. Zavestovskaya, I. N., Popov, A. L., Kolmanovich, D. D., Tikhonowski, G. V., Pastukhov, A. I., Savinov, M. S.,. & Kabashin, A. V. (2023). Boron nanoparticle-enhanced proton therapy for cancer treatment. Nanomaterials, 13(15), 2167. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152167
  58. Li, X., He, P., Wei, Y., Qu, C., Tang, F., & Li, Y. (2025). Application and perspectives of nanomaterials in boron neutron capture therapy of tumors. Cancer Nanotechnology, 16(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-025-00324-3
  59. Xu, S., Yu, Y., Zhang, B., Zhu, K., Cheng, Y., & Zhang, T. (2025). Boron carbide nanoparticles for boron neutron capture therapy. RSC Advances, 15(14), 10717-10730. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ra00734h
  60. Revabhai, P. M., Singhal, R. K., Basu, H., & Kailasa, S. K. (2023). Progress on boron nitride nanostructure materials: Properties, synthesis and applications in hydrogen storage and analytical chemistry. Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry, 13(1), 1-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40097-022-00490-5
  61. Peng, Z., Zhou, Y., Ji, C., Pardo, J., Mintz, K. J., Pandey, R. R., Chusuei, C. C., Graham, R. M., Yan, G., & Leblanc, R. M. (2020). Facile synthesis of “borondoped” carbon dots and their application in visiblelight-driven photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. Nanomaterials, 10(8), 1560. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081560
  62. Icten, O., Tuncdemir, B. E., & Mergen, H. (2022). Design and development of gold-loaded and boronattached multicore manganese ferrite nanoparticles as a potential agent in biomedical applications. ACS Omega, 7(23), 20195-20203. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c02074
  63. Hayward, M. (2019). Characterization of Boron/Iron-Oxide Core/Shell Structure for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy by STEM/EELS-XEDS and Mössbauer Spectroscopy. (Publication No. 13903165) [Master’s Thesis, Northern Illinois University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
  64. Brozek, E. M., Mollard, A. H., & Zharov, I. (2014). Silica nanoparticles carrying boron-containing polymer brushes. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2407-1