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Phytosterols as anticancer compounds

Peter G Bradford1, Atif B Awad

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA. pgb@buffalo.edu

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|February 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Dietary phytosterols, plant compounds similar to cholesterol, show promise in cancer prevention. Research suggests they may reduce cancer risk by boosting immune response and directly inhibiting tumor growth and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Plant biochemistry
  • Molecular oncology
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Phytochemicals are plant-derived compounds with potential health benefits, including chronic disease prevention.
  • Diets rich in phytochemicals may reduce cancer risk by up to 20%.
  • Phytosterols, plant compounds structurally similar to cholesterol, are absorbed from the diet.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of the anticancer effects of dietary phytosterols.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which phytosterols may inhibit cancer development and progression.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological data linking dietary phytosterol intake to reduced cancer incidence.
  • Analysis of molecular studies investigating phytosterol mechanisms in tumorigenic models.

Main Results:

  • Epidemiological studies associate higher dietary phytosterol intake with lower risks of colon, breast, and prostate cancers.
  • Molecular studies reveal phytosterols enhance antitumor immune responses and influence endocrine tumor growth.
  • Phytosterols directly inhibit tumor progression by slowing cell cycles, inducing apoptosis, and reducing metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary phytosterols exhibit significant anticancer properties through both host-mediated and direct mechanisms.
  • Phytosterols represent a promising area of research for cancer prevention and therapy.
  • Further investigation into phytosterols could lead to novel dietary strategies for cancer risk reduction.

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