Sulforaphane and bladder cancer: a potential novel antitumor compound

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Bladder cancer (BC) incidence is rising, with many patients presenting with advanced or metastatic disease.
• Current BC treatments face challenges in achieving complete cures, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
• Sulforaphane, derived from cruciferous vegetables, exhibits potent anticancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the evidence and molecular mechanisms of sulforaphane's efficacy against bladder cancer.
• To explore sulforaphane's effects on BC risk factors and potential therapeutic targets.
• To provide a theoretical basis for developing new BC drugs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific literature on sulforaphane and bladder cancer.
• Analysis of molecular pathways targeted by sulforaphane in BC cells.
• Exploration of sulforaphane's impact on BC risk factors and potential targets via network pharmacology.

Main Results:

• Sulforaphane induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in BC cells.
• It inhibits BC cell growth, invasion, metastasis, and gluconeogenesis.
• Sulforaphane targets multiple pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, Nrf2, ZO-1/β-Catenin, and miR-124/IL-6R/STAT3.

Conclusions:

• Sulforaphane demonstrates significant anticancer activity against bladder cancer through diverse molecular mechanisms.
• It shows potential in inhibiting bladder cancer stem cells and may enhance chemotherapy.
• Further research into sulforaphane offers a promising avenue for novel BC therapeutic development.