Flavonoids as an effective sensitizer for anti-cancer therapy: insights into multi-faceted mechanisms and applicability towards individualized patient profiles

Abstract

Cost-efficacy of currently applied treatments is an issue in overall cancer management challenging healthcare and causing tremendous economic burden to societies around the world. Consequently, complex treatment models presenting concepts of predictive diagnostics followed by targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the personal patient profiles earn global appreciation as benefiting the patient, healthcare economy, and the society at large. In this context, application of flavonoids as a spectrum of compounds and their nano-technologically created derivatives is extensively under consideration, due to their multi-faceted anti-cancer effects applicable to the overall cost-effective cancer management, primary, secondary, and even tertiary prevention. This article analyzes most recently updated data focused on the potent capacity of flavonoids to promote anti-cancer therapeutic effects and interprets all the collected research achievements in the frame-work of predictive, preventive, and personalized (3P) medicine. Main pillars considered are:- Predictable anti-neoplastic, immune-modulating, drug-sensitizing effects;- Targeted molecular pathways to improve therapeutic outcomes by increasing sensitivity of cancer cells and reversing their resistance towards currently applied therapeutic modalities.

Flavonoids Synergistically Enhance the Anti-Glioblastoma Effects of Chemotherapeutic Drugs

“…Among these compounds, flavonoids—polyphenolic plant secondary metabolites—are of interest. Flavonoids exert anti-cancer effects through chemosensitization, metabolic modulation, metastatic inhibition, and apoptotic induction [ 12 , 13 ]. Based on these well-evidenced oncostatic activities, flavonoids have great potential in modulating GBM cell responses to anti-cancer drugs by overcoming their therapeutic resistance.…”

“…In this light, developing novel formulations to enhance the bioavailability and brain delivery of flavonoids is of key interest in advancing synergistic anti-GBM therapy. Current research particularly highlights the potential of nanotechnology approaches to this end [ 12 ].…”

Promising Antiviral Activities of Natural Flavonoids against SARS-CoV-2 Targets: Systematic Review

“…Based on their chemical structure, flavonoids are segregated into various classes, among which there are further subclasses [29,30]. They were extensively studied and recently gained increased interest among researchers and clinicians for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antiviral properties with numerous mechanisms to prevent infection and strengthen host immunity [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Among their many beneficial effects, antiviral properties can serve as a future therapeutic utility for drugging COVID-19.…”

Targeting phytoprotection in the COVID-19-induced lung damage and associated systemic effects—the evidence-based 3PM proposition to mitigate individual risks

“…15 COPD patients [188] Chronic inflammation (asthma) 9,709 individuals [189] Asthma in the elderly as risk factor; plant phenolics against asthma nd chronic inflammation Inflammation, allergies, immunity [13,190,191] Metabolic ill patients with obesity 28 individuals with metabolic syndrome [192] Inflammation in obese individuals Metabolic inflammation and oxidative stress (obesity), [43,193,194] Vascular function 19 essential untreated hypertensive patients [195] Cardiovascular functions, protection against cardiovascular damage Cardiovascular protection, inflammation, anti-thrombotic effects [136,151,152,196,197] Prostate cancer 73 prostate cancer patients [198][199][200] Modulation of cancer patients immune responses, protection against poor outcome Modulation of immunity, inflammation, prevention [19,113,201,202] In vitro (prostate cancer cell lines)…”