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Role of Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention

Alok Ranjan1, Sharavan Ramachandran2,3, Nehal Gupta4

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA. alok.ranjan@nih.gov.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Cancer chemoprevention uses agents to prevent cancer by stopping DNA damage or halting premalignant cell division. Natural compounds show promise as effective chemopreventive agents, offering a vital alternative to conventional therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

  • Cancer chemoprevention involves using agents to minimize cancer occurrence in healthy individuals.
  • Chemopreventive agents work by impeding DNA damage or reversing/blocking premalignant cell division.
  • Clinical trials have shown benefits in breast, prostate, and colon cancer, highlighting the need for alternative strategies due to conventional therapy failures and toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of chemopreventive and anticancer effects of several natural agents.
  • To highlight the potential of natural compounds as chemopreventive agents.
  • To underscore the importance of chemoprevention as a promising strategy for cancer risk reduction.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on cancer chemoprevention.
  • Analysis of mechanisms of action for natural chemopreventive agents.
  • Examination of clinical trial data demonstrating the efficacy of chemoprevention.

Main Results:

  • Tamoxifen demonstrated a significant decrease in invasive breast cancer in early trials.
  • Numerous dietary components, including capsaicin, isoflavones, and catechins, exhibit inhibitory effects on cancer cells.
  • Natural agents show potential for protecting high-risk populations from cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Cancer chemoprevention is a rational and promising strategy.
  • Natural agents offer a viable alternative to conventional cancer therapies.
  • Further research into natural compounds could yield novel chemopreventive agents.
Keywords:
benzyl isothiocyanatecapsaicincatechinschemopreventioncucurbitacin Bisoflavoneslycopenephenethyl isothiocyanatepiperlongumine

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