Integrated network pharmacology and bioinformatics to identify the therapeutic target and molecular mechanisms of Ze-Qi Decoction on lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological subtype of primary lung cancer and has recently been reorganized into a spectrum ranging from preinvasive lesions to invasive adenocarcinoma. As a classic and famous prescription of Synopsis of the Golden Chambers, Ze-Qi Decoction (ZQD) has been proved to be an effective prescription for treating LUAD in clinic, however, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects remain obscure. In this study, we explored the pharmacological mechanisms of ZQD against LUAD via network pharmacology analysis. ZQD may regulate LUAD by regulating core target genes, such as STAT3, MAPK3, MYC, ESR1, RELA, MAPK1 and JUN, and acting on multiple key pathways, such as the human cytomegalovirus infection, chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.