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Multi-Targeted Approach to Treatment of Cancer pp 339–350Cite as

Chemopreventive and Anticancer Efficacy of Silibinin Against Colorectal Cancer

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Abstract

The risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) as well as the incidence of CRC-associated mortality is increasing globally. It is thus imperative that we look at alternative nontoxic natural measures which can be used by all, either as a prevention measure or as a safe intervention strategy at any time during the course of the clinical treatment of this deadly malignancy. The focus of the present review is to encompass the efficacy and mechanisms of silibinin (a flavonolignan isolated from the seeds of milk thistle, Silybum marianum) against CRC. Over the years, preclinical studies have shown that silibinin has strong preventive and therapeutic efficacy against various epithelial cancers, including CRC. Given its high bioavailability in colonic tissues of CRC patients, and the fact that silibinin consumption is exceptionally safe, these studies advocate the efficacy evaluation of silibinin in clinical trials, both as a CRC preventive agent and as an “adjunct therapy” for uses in clinical cases where current treatment approaches fail to cause absolute suppression of CRC.

Grant Support

Supported by NIH RO1 grant CA112304.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Sushil Kumar, Komal Raina & Rajesh Agarwal

  2. University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Komal Raina & Rajesh Agarwal

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 12850 E. Montview Blvd, C238, Room V20-2117, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Rajesh Agarwal

Authors
  1. Sushil Kumar
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  2. Komal Raina
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  3. Rajesh Agarwal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajesh Agarwal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Varsha Gandhi

  2. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Kapil Mehta

  3. Delhi State Cancer Institute (East), Delhi, India

    Rajesh Grover

  4. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Sen Pathak

  5. Department of Bioimmunotherapy, Section of Cytokine Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Bharat B. Aggarwal

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Kumar, S., Raina, K., Agarwal, R. (2015). Chemopreventive and Anticancer Efficacy of Silibinin Against Colorectal Cancer. In: Gandhi, V., Mehta, K., Grover, R., Pathak, S., Aggarwal, B. (eds) Multi-Targeted Approach to Treatment of Cancer. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12253-3_21

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