Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is very aggressive and it is estimated that it kills nearly 50% of patients within the first six months. The lack of symptoms specific to this disease prevents early diagnosis and treatment. Today, gemcitabine alone or in combination with other cytostatic agents such as cisplatin (Cis), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan, capecitabine, or oxaliplatin (Oxa) is used in conventional therapy. Outgoing literature provides data on the use of polyphenols, biologically active compounds, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and the prevention of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, the first part of this review gives a brief overview of the state of pancreatic disease as well as the procedures for its treatment. The second part provides a detailed overview of the research regarding the anticancer effects of both pure polyphenols and their plant extracts. The results regarding the antiproliferative, antimetastatic, as well as inhibitory effects of polyphenols against PC cell lines as well as the prevention of acute pancreatitis are presented in detail. Finally, particular emphasis is given to the polyphenolic profiles of apples, berries, cherries, sour cherries, and grapes, given the fact that these fruits are rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins. Polyphenolic profiles, the content of individual polyphenols, and their relationships are discussed. Based on this, significant data can be obtained regarding the amount of fruit that should be consumed daily to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Highlights
Innovation Center, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Chemistry, P.O
Particular emphasis is given to the polyphenolic profiles of apples, berries, cherries, sour cherries, and grapes, given the fact that these fruits are rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins
The polyphenol resveratrol belongs to the stilbene group; it belongs to phytoalexins, substances that plants produce in response to mechanical injury, UV radiation, and microbial and fungal infections [66]
Summary
Pancreatic cancer has been perceived as an incurable disease worldwide. It is estimated that in 2020, pancreatic carcinoma (PC) will be fourth leading cause of death due to carcinoma in the world [1]. Despite the somewhat increase in PC five-year survival rate, the prognosis of patients with this type of cancer remains very poor. There is evidence of the existence of 12 signaling pathways that are not promoting any distant metastasis 20 years after the initial mutation [5,6]. These findings point to the importance of PC early detection for better disease prognosis. It is essential to further elucidate the precise biological and molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer development, identify the risk factors responsible for this disease, as well as to verify newer, more reliable prognostic factors that could predict the survival rate of these patients. The most common type of PC is adenocarcinoma while other types of exocrine carcinoma such as acinar cell carcinoma, an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasm, etc., are much rarer [7]
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