Cordycepin: A Promising Anticancer Compound from Traditional Chinese Medicine

As cancer continues to pose a significant threat to human health, the search for effective therapeutic agents has become a critical focus in medical research. Cordyceps is a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) valued for its potential health benefits, which include boosting energy, supporting the immune system, and acting as an anti-oxidant. Cordycepin, also known as 3[Formula: see text]-deoxyadenosine, is a bioactive nucleoside derived from Cordyceps. This compound recently has garnered widespread attention for its potential anticancer properties. Through systematic integration of our prior experimental evidence with literature retrieval from PubMed, we confirmed its efficacy in inducing apoptosis, suppressing proliferation, and blocking metastasis across a broad range of cancer types. These effects are primarily attributed to its modulation of key signaling pathways, such as MAPK, AMPK, mTOR, and Wnt/[Formula: see text]-catenin, all of which play crucial roles in various malignant conditions. In addition, cordycepin's ability to modulate immune responses through the regulation of adenosine receptor (AR), and in particular the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR), has gained attention as an innovative strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Recent advancements in improving cordycepin's biostability, bioavailability, and transport efficiency within the body system have further supported the clinical application of this compound in medical oncology. This review highlights key research findings and explores promising future directions with the aim of contributing to ongoing studies in cancer management.