Gastrointestinal Tumors: Phytochemical and Drug Combinations Targeting the Hallmarks of Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a worldwide burden resulting in millions of deaths each year. In particular, gastrointestinal tumors are life-threatening malignancies and one of the leading reasons for death in developed countries. Phytochemicals can be found in grains, vegetables, fruits and several foods. Many phytochemicals, such as curcumin, genistein, luteolin, vitexin-2-O-xyloside, avenanthramides, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, sulforaphane, piperine and thymoquinone have been used in combination with different chemotherapeutic agents for their synergistic anticancer effects against various forms of cancer. In this review, we describe the antitumor properties and biological effects of combinations of phytochemicals and anticancer drugs against gastrointestinal tumors: colon cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer. We focus on the molecular pathways, oncoproteins and tumor suppressors modulated by the combination of phytochemicals with antitumor drugs and on the biomarkers of the hallmarks of cancer influenced by these therapeutic strategies in cancer cell lines, xenograft models and clinical trials. The increased knowledge of biomarkers and molecular pathways regulated by the combination of phytochemicals and conventional anticancer drugs in both in vitro and in vivo models will remarkably improve the efficacy of these therapeutic strategies against gastrointestinal tumors in future innovative clinical applications.

Bioactive effects of citrus flavonoids and role in the prevention of atherosclerosis and cancer

“…The studies reported in the present review indicate that flavonoids appear to be useful functional food compounds, in the prevention of some chronic pathological conditions 131,132 . In particular, experimental in vitro and in vivo investigations indicate that citrus flavonoids may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and human tumors 133,134,135 . Besides vitamin C, folate, dietary fiber and carotenoids 136 , the beneficial effects of diet citrus fruits can be attributed, in particular, to the antioxidant activity of flavonoids present in citrus fruit.…”

Synergistic Cytotoxicity of Extracts of Chaga Mushroom and Microalgae against Mammalian Cancer Cells In Vitro

“…However, cancer treatments have mostly relied on specific cytotoxic chemotherapy, and their impact on dividing healthy cells results in adverse side effects. There is a renewed interest in natural compounds that can inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer, and investigations of their adjuvant effects with traditional chemo-drugs are underway [ 6 , 7 ].…”