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Modulation of Key Signaling Pathways in Cancer Cells by Dietary Factors

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Critical Dietary Factors in Cancer Chemoprevention

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Abstract

The World Health Organization has predicted new cancer rates to increase by 70 % within the next two decades. With rates expected to continue increasing in cancer incidence and mortality, chemoprevention and early diagnosis are the keys to decreasing cancer mortality. Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic agents to inhibit, reverse, or prevent carcinogenesis. Studies have suggested there is a significant difference in cancer incidence among population groups with different lifestyle factors, especially diet. Phytochemicals or “nutraceuticals,” the substances present in fruits, vegetables, and plants, have beneficial effects targeting multiple key signaling molecules and perturbing the carcinogenesis process. Studies have demonstrated curcumin, resveratrol, 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), and many others to hold inhibitory effects on cancer cells. There is overwhelming evidence that these nutraceuticals modulate key signaling pathways including cell cycle signaling and p53, transcription and inflammatory mediators such as NF-κB and PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and angiogenic pathways in cancer cells. Through regulation of cell signaling pathways, these dietary factors can induce cell arrest and apoptosis, and suppress proliferation and inflammation, resulting in inhibition of carcinogenesis. In this chapter, we review the effects of these nutraceuticals on some of the key signaling cellular and molecular pathways and highlight their roles as chemopreventive agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 707 HWCRC Bldg, 4100 John R. Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Amrah Ali

  2. Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, 740 HWCRC, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Aamir Ahmad Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Amrah Ali
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  2. Aamir Ahmad Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Aamir Ahmad Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Prince Fahd Research Chair, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, FAMS, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Fahad Ullah

  2. Department of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Aamir Ahmad

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Ali, A., Ahmad, A. (2016). Modulation of Key Signaling Pathways in Cancer Cells by Dietary Factors. In: Ullah, M., Ahmad, A. (eds) Critical Dietary Factors in Cancer Chemoprevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21461-0_13

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