Targeting epigenetics in cancer: therapeutic potential of flavonoids

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading global cause of mortality, posing significant health challenges due to treatment burdens.
• Epigenetic modifications, heritable changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequence, are crucial in cancer development and recurrence.
• Current cancer treatments face issues like therapeutic incompliance, adverse effects, and high costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review plant-derived flavonoids as potential epigenetic regulators for cancer therapy.
• To explore the epigenetic mechanisms employed by various flavonoid classes in cancer pathogenesis.
• To highlight the therapeutic potential of flavonoids based on preclinical evidence.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on plant-derived flavonoids and their role in cancer epigenetics.
• Discussion of epigenetic mechanisms influenced by different flavonoid classes (e.g., flavonols, flavones, isoflavones).
• Analysis of preclinical study outcomes regarding flavonoid efficacy in cancer models.

Main Results:

• Flavonoids, including specific anthocyanidins like cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin, exhibit epigenetic regulatory properties relevant to cancer.
• Preclinical studies demonstrate significant potential for flavonoids in modulating cancer pathogenesis through epigenetic pathways.
• Various flavonoid subclasses, such as flavanones and flavan-3-ols, are implicated in these epigenetic effects.

Conclusions:

• Plant-derived flavonoids represent a promising avenue for novel cancer therapeutics due to their epigenetic regulatory capabilities.
• Encouraging preclinical data warrants further investigation through clinical trials to establish the therapeutic value of flavonoids in oncology.
• The clinical application of flavonoids in cancer treatment is contingent upon the outcomes of ongoing and future clinical studies.