Effect of Dietary Resveratrol in the Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring phytoalexin, is found in natural foods and food products such as grapes, peanuts, berries, and red wine. In recent years, resveratrol has gained considerable attention for its anticancer activities across multiple cancers. The anticancer effects of resveratrol are multifaceted and involve regulation of diverse cellular signaling, including apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death, cell survival, and cell cycle progression. Anticancer activities of resveratrol are associated with engagement of AKT/PKB pathway, NF-κB pathway, death-receptor and TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and induction of p21/p27, as well as downregulation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. Resveratrol has been shown to have synergistic effects with radiation therapy. Resveratrol increases the therapeutic index of anticancer agents by sensitizing cancer cells to apoptosis. In preclinical studies, evidence gathered from mouse models suggests that resveratrol has beneficial effects against several types of human cancers and has been shown to inhibit or attenuate the initiation and progression of skin, prostate, colon, and breast cancers. Although resveratrol is widely considered to be well-tolerated in clinical trials for the treatment of human cancers, a limited number of studies have so far been conducted in human population because of poor bioavailability. These preliminary studies in human clinical trials have yet to recapitulate the physiological benefits seen in mouse models. This chapter provides a comprehensive description of resveratrol-mediated modulation of cellular signaling pathways, which may be exploited to develop further strategies for cancer therapy.