[Quercetin for the treatment of prostate cancer: Progress in studies]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) presents a significant health challenge with poor prognosis in advanced stages.
• Current drug therapies for PCa often lead to severe adverse reactions, necessitating novel therapeutic agents.
• Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits diverse biological activities with potential anti-cancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the therapeutic advances of quercetin in prostate cancer (PCa) treatment.
• To focus on quercetin's mechanisms, including apoptosis promotion, proliferation inhibition, and reduction of invasiveness.
• To explore quercetin's potential in reversing drug resistance and its synergistic effects with conventional therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on quercetin and prostate cancer.
• Analysis of quercetin's effects on cancer cell signaling, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion.
• Examination of quercetin's role in overcoming chemoresistance and its combination therapy potential.

Main Results:

• Quercetin demonstrates anti-cancer effects by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation in PCa cells.
• Quercetin can reduce the invasiveness and migration of prostate tumor cells.
• Evidence suggests quercetin may reverse drug resistance and potentiate the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Quercetin presents a promising natural compound for prostate cancer management.
• Its multifaceted mechanisms offer a potential alternative or adjunct therapy with a favorable side effect profile.
• Further research on quercetin could provide a new theoretical basis for innovative PCa treatment strategies.