Phytochemicals and protein-polyamine conjugates by transglutaminase as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic tools in cancer.
Identifying novel chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents and targeting them to patients at high risk of developing cancer or following curative treatment may go some way towards improving prognosis. This review examines current knowledge regarding the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of phytochemicals in cancer. Both in vitro and animal studies demonstrate that several phytochemicals increase the activity of intracellular transglutaminases, a family of enzymes involved in cell differentiation, through the covalent conjugation of polyamine to cellular protein, with promising anti-neoplastic properties. The substantial data available on certain plant secondary metabolites makes a strong case for integrating these safe and well-tolerated agents into clinical practice.
Department of Biology, University "Tor Vergata" Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Lentini
Claudio
C
Tabolacci
Bruno
B
Provenzano
Stefania
S
Rossi
Simone
S
Beninati
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011073:Polyamines; D011506:Proteins; D011503:Transglutaminases