Harnessing Plant Flavonoids to Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Department

Internal Medicine

Additional Department

Gastroenterology

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Current Nutrition Reports

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review draws on the last fifteen years (2009-2024) of published data to summarize the potential effect of plant flavonoids on pancreatic carcinogenesis and discuss the possible mechanisms of action to establish their applicability as anti-cancer agents.

RECENT FINDINGS: This review found that the plant flavonoids with anti-pancreatic cancer activity mainly include chalcones, dihydrochalcones, flavanols, flavanones, flavones, isoflavonoids, flavonols, isoflavones, and flavanonols. Most of these flavonoids have anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and anti-metastatic properties. Some flavonoids can also regulate autophagy, immune and glucose uptake in the context of pancreatic cancer. Several molecules and signaling pathways are associated with the pharmacological activities of plant flavonoids, including AMP-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinases, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B, nuclear factor-κB, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3, Smad3, epidermal growth factor receptor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. This review provides strong evidence that plant flavonoids have potential against pancreatic carcinogenesis in experimental animals through various pharmacological mechanisms. They are a promising resource for use as adjuvant anti-cancer therapy. However, randomized controlled clinical trials with those flavonoids are needed.

First Page

566

Last Page

581

DOI

10.1007/s13668-024-00545-9

Volume

13

Issue

3

Publication Date

9-1-2024

Medical Subject Headings

Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy); Humans; Flavonoids (pharmacology, therapeutic use); Animals; Signal Transduction (drug effects); Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology); Apoptosis (drug effects)

PubMed ID

38700837

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