A New Frontier in Studying Dietary Phytochemicals in Cancer and in Health: Metabolic and Epigenetic Reprogramming

Metabolic rewiring and epigenetic reprogramming are closely inter-related, and mutually regulate each other to control cell growth in cancer initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. Epigenetics plays a crucial role in regulating normal cellular functions as well as pathological conditions in many diseases, including cancer. Conversely, certain mitochondrial metabolites are considered as essential cofactors and regulators of epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, dysregulation of metabolism promotes tumor cell growth and reprograms the cells to produce metabolites and bioenergy needed to support cancer cell proliferation. Hence, metabolic reprogramming which alters the metabolites/epigenetic cofactors, would drive the epigenetic landscape, including DNA methylation and histone modification, that could lead to cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. Recognizing the diverse array of benefits of phytochemicals, they are gaining increasing interest in cancer interception and treatment. One of the significant mechanisms of cancer interception and treatment by phytochemicals is reprogramming of the key metabolic pathways and remodeling of cancer epigenetics. This review focuses on the metabolic remodeling and epigenetics reprogramming in cancer and investigates the potential mechanisms by which phytochemicals can mitigate cancer.