Natural Product-Based Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Signaling Pathways in Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide.
• Traditional PCa treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) face challenges like drug resistance and toxicity.
• There is a critical need for low-toxicity therapeutic alternatives for PCa management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of natural product-derived therapies in targeting critical signaling pathways in prostate cancer progression.
• To highlight specific natural compounds (curcumin, resveratrol, genistein, sulforaphane) and their mechanisms of action against PCa.
• To evaluate current research, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest future directions for natural product-based PCa interventions.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of natural product-derived therapies for prostate cancer.
• Analysis of studies focusing on the modulation of key signaling pathways (AR, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, MAPK, NF-κB) by natural compounds.
• Critical evaluation of recent trends and comparison of findings with existing research.

Main Results:

• Natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, genistein, and sulforaphane demonstrate anticancer effects in PCa.
• These compounds regulate key molecular pathways, inhibiting tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, and preventing metastasis.
• The review highlights the therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds in PCa management.

Conclusions:

• Natural product-derived therapies offer a promising low-toxicity approach for prostate cancer management.
• Targeting specific molecular pathways with compounds like curcumin and resveratrol can effectively inhibit PCa progression.
• Further research is needed to optimize these natural interventions and address current knowledge gaps for clinical application.