Natural Compounds in Cancers

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Cancer Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 5203

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: functional foods; protein hydrolysate; antioxidant; immunomodulation; natural extracts; biopeptides; lupine; hemp
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: hydrolysates; peptides; lupine; oxidant stress; functional foods; nutraceuticals; atherosclerosis; MAFLD
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Bioquímica Médica y Biología Molecular e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: cancer; immunity; nutrients; obesity; myeloid-derived suppressor cells; regulatory T cells

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains to be an important global health challenge, demanding innovative and effective therapeutic strategies. In the search for novel treatments, attention has turned toward natural compounds derived from plants, fungi, marine organisms, and other sources.

Several studies have revealed the presence of potent bioactive molecules in plants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which possess remarkable antitumor effects. Other natural compounds have shown promise in inhibiting tumor growth and inducing cancer cell death.

In addition, some of these compounds exhibit chemopreventive properties by targeting key molecular pathways involved in carcinogenesis, thus reducing the risk of cancer development and progression.
Another important piece of evidence is that these can reduce the side effects of conventional cancer therapies, improving their efficacy and enhancing survival rates in both murine models and oncological patients.

At last, the immunomodulatory effects of certain natural compounds are highlighted, since they can enhance the immune response against cancer cells, contributing to boosting the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

Thus, the importance of natural compounds in cancer management cannot be understated. However, more investigations are necessary, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations, to know the full potential of natural compounds in the fight against cancer.

Therefore, this Special Issue of Cancers, entitled “Natural Compounds in Cancer”, welcomes the submission of original articles or reviews that can improve the knowledge about the beneficial effects of natural compounds. However, papers on medical plants (just certain extracts) will not be considered unless the active ingredient or constituents of the plant are determined or presented, and the toxicity is evaluated in the study (in vivo and in vitro).

Dr. Ivan Cruz-Chamorro
Dr. Guillermo Santos Sánchez
Dr. Carlos Jiménez-Cortegana
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutrition
  • bioactive molecules
  • inflammation
  • natural extracts
  • nutraceuticals
  • immunotherapy
  • chemotherapy

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 12322 KiB  
Article
Using Flavonoid Substitution Status to Predict Anticancer Effects in Human Melanoma Cancers: An In Vitro Study
by Katarzyna Jakimiuk, Łukasz Szoka, Arkadiusz Surażyński and Michał Tomczyk
Cancers 2024, 16(3), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16030487 - 23 Jan 2024
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Abstract
Skin cancers are a dominant type of cancer that impacts millions per year. Cancer is a heterogeneous disease triggered by the irreversible impairment of cellular homeostasis and function. In this study, we investigated the activity of 37 structurally diverse flavonoids to find potentially [...] Read more.
Skin cancers are a dominant type of cancer that impacts millions per year. Cancer is a heterogeneous disease triggered by the irreversible impairment of cellular homeostasis and function. In this study, we investigated the activity of 37 structurally diverse flavonoids to find potentially active substances using two melanoma cell lines: C32 and A375. First, the cytotoxic potential and DNA biosynthesis inhibition of flavonoids were tested to determine the most active compounds in cancer and normal cells. Second, the molecular mechanism of the anticancer activity of flavonoids was elucidated using Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Compounds 1, 6, 15, and 37 reduced the viability of A375 and C32 cell lines via the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis, whereas 16 and 17 acted in a higher degree via the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis. In our experiment, we demonstrated the anticancer activity of compound 15 (5,6-dihydroxyflavone) for the first time. The in vitro studies pointed out the importance of the flavonoid core in hydroxyl groups in the search for potential drugs for amelanotic melanoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds in Cancers)
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Review

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37 pages, 2599 KiB  
Review
Plant-Derived Polyphenols to Prevent and Treat Oral Mucositis Induced by Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers Management
by Elena Belfiore, Giulia Di Prima, Giuseppe Angellotti, Vera Panzarella and Viviana De Caro
Cancers 2024, 16(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16020260 - 06 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
Oral Mucositis (OM) is the most common side effect due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are the conventional treatment options for head and neck cancers. OM is a severe inflammatory condition characterized by multifactorial etiopathogenesis. It further negatively affects patients’ quality of life [...] Read more.
Oral Mucositis (OM) is the most common side effect due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are the conventional treatment options for head and neck cancers. OM is a severe inflammatory condition characterized by multifactorial etiopathogenesis. It further negatively affects patients’ quality of life by severe impairment of normal oral functions. Consequently, it is mandatory to identify new effective therapeutic approaches to both prevent and treat OM while also avoiding any recurrence. Polyphenols recently attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their low toxicity and wide range of biological activities making them ideal candidates for several applications in the odontostomatological field, particularly against OM. This review collects the in vivo studies and the clinical trials conducted over the past 13 years evaluating the preventive and curative effects of several polyphenolic compounds towards chemo- and radiotherapy-induced OM, both when administered alone or as a plant-extracted phytocomplex. The literature fully confirms the usefulness of these molecules, thus opening the possibility of their clinical application. However, polyphenol limitations (e.g., unfavourable physicochemical properties and susceptibility to degradation) have emerged. Consequently, the interest of the scientific community should be focused on developing innovative delivery systems able to stabilize polyphenols, thus facilitating topical administration and maximizing their efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds in Cancers)
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Other

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30 pages, 1747 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Anticancer Potential of Kaempferol: A Systematic Review Based on In Vitro Studies
by Everton Freitas de Morais, Lilianny Querino Rocha de Oliveira, Hannah Gil de Farias Morais, Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros, Roseana de Almeida Freitas, Camila Oliveira Rodini and Ricardo D. Coletta
Cancers 2024, 16(3), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16030585 - 30 Jan 2024
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Abstract
Given the heterogeneity of different malignant processes, planning cancer treatment is challenging. According to recent studies, natural products are likely to be effective in cancer prevention and treatment. Among bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, kaempferol (KMP) is known for its anti-inflammatory, [...] Read more.
Given the heterogeneity of different malignant processes, planning cancer treatment is challenging. According to recent studies, natural products are likely to be effective in cancer prevention and treatment. Among bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, kaempferol (KMP) is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This systematic review aims to highlight the potential therapeutic effects of KMP on different types of solid malignant tumors. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After the application of study criteria, 64 studies were included. In vitro experiments demonstrated that KMP exerts antitumor effects by controlling tumor cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, as well as by inhibiting angiogenesis. KMP was also able to inhibit important markers that regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition and enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to traditional drugs used in chemotherapy, including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. This flavonoid is a promising therapeutic compound and its combination with current anticancer agents, including targeted drugs, may potentially produce more effective and predictable results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds in Cancers)
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