Bitter taste signaling in cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cancer pharmacoresistance, particularly multidrug resistance (MDR), is a significant clinical challenge.
• ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are key mediators of MDR, extruding chemotherapy drugs from cancer cells.
• Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are increasingly recognized for their roles beyond taste, including in cellular transport and cancer biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential therapeutic role of TAS2Rs in cancer treatment.
• To explore how TAS2Rs and their ligands can be utilized to overcome chemoresistance.
• To highlight TAS2Rs as a potential target for novel cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on TAS2Rs, ABC transporters, and cancer.
• Analysis of research on bitter compounds, including flavonoids and alkaloids, as potential cancer therapeutics.
• Synthesis of findings regarding TAS2R expression and function in various cancer types.

Main Results:

• TAS2Rs are expressed in multiple organs and various cancers (e.g., breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal).
• Activation of TAS2Rs influences cancer cell behaviors like survival, apoptosis, and molecular transport.
• Certain TAS2R ligands, such as flavonoids and alkaloids, possess anticancer properties and may act as adjuvants.

Conclusions:

• TAS2Rs represent a promising therapeutic target for combating cancer multidrug resistance.
• Bitter taste compounds and TAS2R activation offer a potential strategy to circumvent chemoresistance.
• Targeting TAS2Rs could lead to novel adjuvant therapies for various cancer types.