Recent progress on nutraceutical research in prostate cancer.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nutritional Science
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in men.
• Nutraceuticals are gaining attention for their potential role in cancer prevention and therapy.
• Existing evidence suggests nutraceuticals can impact PCa development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of nutraceuticals in prostate cancer prevention and treatment.
• To explore the mechanisms by which nutraceuticals affect PCa signaling pathways and cancer stem cells.
• To evaluate the potential of nutraceuticals as adjunct therapy for prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies, in vitro, animal, and clinical trial data.
• Analysis of nutraceuticals' effects on signaling pathways (AR, Akt, NF-κB).
• Investigation into nutraceuticals' impact on cancer stem cells (CSCs) and related molecules.

Main Results:

• Several nutraceuticals downregulate critical signaling pathways involved in PCa development and resistance.
• Nutraceuticals can inhibit prostatic CSCs, which drive drug resistance and recurrence.
• Combined nutraceutical and conventional therapy may enhance treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Nutraceuticals are valuable agents for PCa prevention and adjunct therapy.
• Targeting signaling pathways and CSCs with nutraceuticals offers a promising strategy for metastatic PCa.
• Integrating nutraceuticals into treatment plans could improve survival and outcomes for prostate cancer patients.