title: Molecular pathways for cancer chemoprevention by dietary phytochemicals.
abstract: Interest in dietary phytochemicals for potential cancer chemoprevention has increased substantially. Screening dietary compounds for chemopreventive activity however, requires a systematic and wide-ranging approach to encompass the complexity of carcinogenesis. We present some of the molecular pathways that underpin the broad biological processes involved in carcinogenesis. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and the evasion of apoptosis are important biological mechanisms by which carcinogenesis occurs. Subsequently, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activity represent important activities for preventing, suppressing, or reversing the development of carcinogenesis. Ultimately, these mechanisms of action may provide a useful basis for screening novel phytochemicals for chemopreventive activity. In this review, we identify the important molecular processes that may be targeted in routine screenings of dietary phytochemicals to ultimately select the most effective potential candidates for cancer chemoprevention.
authors.affiliation: Food Futures Flagship, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, North Ryde, NSW, Australia. tan.aaron.c@gmail.com
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konczak
authors.forename: Daniel M-Y
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramzan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011453:Prostaglandins; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053804:Granzymes; D015232:Dinoprostone