Targeting Inflammatory Pathways by Flavonoids for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Observational studies have suggested that life- style risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, high- fat diet, radiation, and infections can cause cancer and that a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables can prevent cancer. Evidence from our laboratory and others suggests that agents either causing or preventing cancer are linked through the regula- tion of inflammatory pathways. Genes regulated by the transcription factor NF-κB have been shown to mediate inflammation, cellular trans- formation, tumor cell survival, proliferation, inva- sion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Whereas vari- ous lifestyle risk factors have been found to acti- vate NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated gene products, flavonoids derived from fruits and vegetables have been found to suppress this pathway. The present review describes various flavones, flava- nones, flavonols, isoflavones, anthocyanins, and chalcones derived from fruits, vegetables, le- gumes, spices, and nuts that can suppress the proinflammatory cell signaling pathways and thus can prevent and even treat the cancer. " cancer l " inflammation l " flavonoids