Phytochemicals modulate carcinogenic signaling pathways in breast and hormone-related cancers

Roxana Cojocneanu Petric,1,2 Cornelia Braicu,2 Lajos Raduly,2,3 Oana Zanoaga,2 Nicolae Dragos,1,4 Paloma Monroig,5 Dan Dumitrascu,6 Ioana Berindan-Neagoe2,5,7,81Department of Biology, Babes-Bolyai University, 2Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, 4Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 5Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 62nd Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 7Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute “Prof Dr Ion Chiricuţă”, 8Department of Immunology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaAbstract: Over the years, nutrition and environmental factors have been demonstrated to influence human health, specifically cancer. Owing to the fact that cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, efforts are being made to elucidate molecular mechanisms that trigger or delay carcinogenesis. Phytochemicals, in particular, have been shown to modulate oncogenic processes through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and their ability to mimic the chemical structure and activity of hormones. These compounds can act not only by influencing oncogenic proteins, but also by modulating noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. Although we are only beginning to understand the complete effects of many natural compounds, such as phytochemicals, researchers are motivated to combine these agents with traditional, chemo-based, or hormone-based therapies to fight against cancer. Since ongoing studies continue to prove effective, herein we exalt the importance of improving dietary choices as a chemo-preventive strategy.Keywords: natural compounds, dietary polyphenols, epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, genistein, noncoding RNA, cancer