Breaking the relay in deregulated cellular signal transduction as a rationale for chemoprevention with anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.
Center to the cancer biology is disrupted intracellular signaling network, which transmits improper signals resulting in abnormal cellular functioning. Therefore, modulation of inappropriate cell signaling cascades might be a rational approach in achieving chemoprevention. Inflammation has long been suspected to contribute to carcinogenesis. A new horizon in chemoprevention research is the recent discovery of molecular links between inflammation and cancer. Components of the cell signaling network, especially those converge on redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB involved in mediating inflammatory response, have been implicated in carcinogenesis. Intracellular signaling through another redox-sensitive transcription factor AP-1 and that transmitted via a more recently identified oncoprotein beta-catenin are also considered to be crucial for inflammation-associated cancer. Epidemiological and experimental studies have revealed that a wide variety of phytochemicals present in our daily diet are potential chemopreventive agents that can alter or correct undesired cellular functions caused by abnormal pro-inflammatory signal transmission. Modulation of cellular signaling involved in chronic inflammatory response by anti-inflammatory phytochemicals may comprise a rational and pragmatic strategy in molecular target-based chemoprevention.
Kundu
Joydeb Kumar
JK
National Research Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Shinlim-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
Surh
Young-Joon
YJ
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D011494:Protein Kinases