> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://myhealingcommunity.gitbook.io/myhealingcommunity-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://myhealingcommunity.gitbook.io/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type.md).

# WFA Evidence by Cancer Type

This section maps where WFA evidence is most clinically meaningful.

The strongest settings are those with multiple mechanistic papers, in vivo support, or early human relevance. Thinner signals remain worth noting, but they do not carry the same translational weight.

### Stronger settings

#### Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the best-developed disease area for WFA. It anchors the autophagy blockade work, the ER-α suppression work, the vimentin and anti-metastatic work, and a large part of the apoptosis literature.

#### Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most clinically advanced translational setting. The cisplatin combination work is strong, CSC biology is directly relevant, and an ongoing human trial exists.

### Emerging settings

#### Non-small cell lung cancer

NSCLC stands out for EMT suppression, paclitaxel synergy, and checkpoint inhibitor sensitisation.

#### Glioblastoma

The biology is plausible because WFA targets `HSP90`, `Akt/mTOR`, and stem-like survival pathways. Clinical relevance remains limited by uncertainty around CNS delivery and relatively thin in vivo data.

### Broader but thinner evidence base

WFA also has preclinical signals in colorectal, osteosarcoma, prostate, pancreatic, cervical, B-cell lymphoma, hepatocellular, and thyroid cancer.

These signals matter, but most do not yet justify the same level of confidence as breast or ovarian cancer.

### Cancer-type overview

| Cancer type         | Key signal                                                               | Evidence level                               |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- |
| Breast              | Autophagy blockade, ER-α suppression, vimentin disruption, CSC relevance | Cell line and animal strong                  |
| Ovarian             | Cisplatin synergy, CSC depletion, active trial landscape                 | Cell line, animal, and early human relevance |
| Non-small cell lung | EMT suppression, paclitaxel synergy, checkpoint sensitisation            | Cell line and animal                         |
| Glioblastoma        | `HSP90/Akt/mTOR` relevance, radiosensitisation, GSC interest             | Thin but coherent                            |
| Colorectal          | `HIF-1α` and EMT signalling                                              | Cell line and animal                         |
| Osteosarcoma        | Published Phase I oncology trial                                         | Phase I human plus preclinical               |
| Pancreatic          | Oxaliplatin synergy and CSC relevance                                    | Cell line only                               |
| Cervical            | HPV oncoprotein relevance and xenograft activity                         | Cell line and animal                         |
| B-cell lymphoma     | `NF-κB`, BCR signalling, and HSP90 disruption                            | Cell line and animal                         |
| Hepatocellular      | Ferroptosis and resistance relevance                                     | Cell line and animal                         |
| Thyroid             | Sorafenib synergy                                                        | Cell line and animal                         |

### Explore by cancer type

Detailed pages in this section cover:

* [Breast Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer.md)
* [Ovarian Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/ovarian-cancer.md)
* [Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/non-small-cell-lung-cancer.md)
* [Glioblastoma](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/glioblastoma.md)
* [Other Cancer Types](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/other-cancer-types.md)

### Related pages

* [AR+/ER+ Breast Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/breast-cancer/er-positive-her2-negative/ar+-er+-breast-cancer.md)

**IMPORTANT:** <mark style="color:violet;">Please do not assume that any “ashwagandha” supplement will provide oncology‑relevant WFA exposure. This page was created to highlight Withaferin A‑focused targets, and specialised WFA‑standardised leaf extracts are required, not general ashwagandha root products. For support in sourcing see the</mark> <mark style="color:violet;"></mark><mark style="color:violet;">**Sourcing Quality**</mark> <mark style="color:violet;"></mark><mark style="color:violet;">page within this WFA in Oncology Hub.</mark>

### Key references

Muniraj N. et al. — breast cancer autophagy and energetic impairment.\
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10893887/>

Sehdev V. et al. — ER-α suppression in ER-positive breast cancer.\
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3129407/>

Thaiparambil J. T. et al. — vimentin disruption and anti-metastatic activity in breast cancer.\
<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039065>

Kakar S. et al. — ovarian cancer CSC targeting and cisplatin synergy.\
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4218168/>

Mukherjee A. et al. — ovarian cancer cachexia and muscle effects.\
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12487364/>

University of Louisville — ovarian cancer trial using Ashwagandha plus liposomal doxorubicin.\
<https://ctv.veeva.com/study/combination-therapy-for-recurrent-ovarian-cancer>

Kim S. H. et al. — NSCLC EMT reversal and invasion.\
<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mc.22110>

Banerjee S. et al. — NSCLC checkpoint sensitisation.\
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10295988/>

Akbarshahi H. et al. — glioblastoma and brain-tumour models.\
<https://www.oncotarget.com/article/25175/text/>

Bolleddula J. et al. — Osteosarcoma Phase I withaferin A trial.\
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947618307897>

Sun S. et al. — colorectal cancer growth and metastasis.\
<https://www.archivesofmedicalscience.com/Withaferin-A-inhibits-colorectal-cancer-growth-and-metastasis-by-targeting,196381,0,2.html>

Sarin N. et al. — pancreatic cancer and oxaliplatin synergy.\
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332218330701>

Gopalakrishnan R. et al. — B-cell lymphoma.\
<https://uknowledge.uky.edu/microbio_facpub/159/>

Guo J. et al. — hepatocellular carcinoma and ferroptosis review context.\
<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.8090>

Access and availability:\
Source: MCS Formulas, “Withaferin A Pro Liposomal.”\
`50 mg` WFA per capsule. Available via healthcare professional request.\
<https://www.mcsformulas.com/vitamins-supplements/withaferin-a-pro-liposomal/ref/14>

### In this section

#### Core pages

* [Withaferin A (WFA) in Oncology](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology.md)
* [Evidence Summary](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/evidence-summary.md)
* [Anticancer Mechanisms](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/anti-cancer-mechanisms.md)
* [Immune Effects](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/immune-effects.md)
* [Synergistic Combinations](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/synergistic-combinations.md)

#### Cancer-type pages

* [WFA Evidence by Cancer Type](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type.md)
* [Breast Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer.md)
* [Ovarian Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/ovarian-cancer.md)
* [Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/non-small-cell-lung-cancer.md)
* [Glioblastoma](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/glioblastoma.md)
* [Other Cancer Types](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/wfa-evidence-by-cancer-type/other-cancer-types.md)

#### Practical pages

* [Pharmacokinetics & Metabolism](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/pharmacokinetics-and-metabolism.md)
* [Sourcing Quality](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/sourcing-quality.md)
* [Safety, Interactions and WFA Dosing](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/safety-interactions-and-wfa-dosing.md)
* [Hormones — ER-α and Androgens](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/hormones-er-a-and-androgens.md)
* [Terrain Support — Liposomal WFA vs Whole-Plant Ashwagandha](/myhealingcommunity-docs/natural-medicines/withaferin-a-wfa-in-oncology/terrain-support-liposomal-wfa-vs-whole-plant-ashwagandha.md)

{% hint style="warning" %}
This information is for education only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a qualified clinician before making changes to care, medication, or supplement use.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
© 2026 Abbey Mitchell. All rights reserved. Please share by URL rather than copying page text.
{% endhint %}


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