Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are some of the most commonly used treatments, but are often associated with severe side effects, and are not entirely curative. It is therefore important to consider other preventative treatment options. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds which have been shown to play a role in cancer prevention and treatment, especially in regards to a person’s lifestyle and diet. Recent evidence has shown that phytochemicals may exert their chemopreventative effects by targeting micro RNAs (miRNAs), which regulate the downstream expression of tumor suppressors and oncogenes. MiRNAs are small, endogenous, noncoding RNAs that regulate several biological processes through post-translational regulation. The dysregulation of miRNA expression has been shown to be associated with colorectal cancer. In this review, we will summarize and discuss several phytochemicals, which have been shown to exert chemopreventative effects in colorectal cancer by the modulation of miRNA expression.
Highlights
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are some of the most commonly used treatments, but are often associated with severe side effects, and are not entirely curative
Resveratrol was found to upregulate miR-96 in a genetically engineered mouse model for sporadic Colorectal cancer (CRC), which caused the downregulation of KRAS, an oncogene associated with tumor aggressiveness and chemoresistance [40]
Another study found that the treatment of sulforaphane decreased cell density in RKO cells and inhibited tumorigenesis; one mechanism identified was by decreasing miR-21, which caused the downregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase and HDAC1 [59]
Summary
Cancers afflicting the colon and/or the rectum are collectively referred to as colorectal cancers (CRCs). Increased red and processed meat consumption has been associated with a significantly increased risk of CRC incidence [3] It stands to reason that a modification of the Western diet could potentially lead to chemopreventative or protective effects: A potential change being the increased consumption of plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables [4]. Studies attempting to link fiber consumption to colon cancer are weakly supportive at best—many fail to show any association at all [6,7] Another source of interest regarding this area was the low incidence rate of CRC in India; the rates for both males and females are amongst the lowest in the world [8]. Various phytochemicals have been shown to modulate epigenetic mechanisms leading to decreased tumorigenesis and aberrant cancer cell proliferation by regulating pathways linked to angiogenesis, invasion, and cell survival
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
