Apoptosis by dietary agents for prevention and treatment of cancer

Naghma Khan1, Vaqar Mustafa Adhami, Hasan Mukhtar

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Biochemical Pharmacology
|August 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Dietary cancer chemopreventive agents can influence apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Understanding these interactions is key to cancer prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is crucial for development and homeostasis.
  • Dietary agents show chemopreventive effects by targeting apoptosis pathways.
  • Apoptosis can be triggered by extrinsic or intrinsic signals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanistic interactions of dietary chemopreventive components with apoptosis.
  • To explore how these agents affect cancer cell elimination or survival.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on dietary agents and apoptosis.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involved in apoptosis induction and inhibition.
  • Exploration of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic effects of dietary compounds.

Main Results:

  • Dietary agents can modulate apoptosis signaling pathways.
  • Proapoptotic compounds may enhance elimination of precancerous cells.
  • Antiapoptotic compounds might promote tumor formation by preventing apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary chemopreventive components have significant interactions with apoptosis.
  • Targeting apoptosis pathways with dietary agents offers potential cancer prevention strategies.
  • Further research into these mechanisms can refine cancer chemoprevention approaches.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...