Certain dietary polyphenols, such as (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea and genistein from soybean, have been demonstrated to inhibit DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) in vitro. This inhibitory activity is associated with the demethylation of the CpG islands in the promoters and the reactivation of methylation-silenced genes such as p16INK4a, retinoic acid receptor beta, O6-methylguanine methyltransferase, human mutL homolog 1, and glutathione S-transferase-pi. These activities have been observed in human esophageal, colon, prostate, and mammary cancer cell lines, and the activity can be enhanced by the presence of histone deacetylase inhibitors or by a longer-term treatment. Many other polyphenolic compounds have lower activities in inhibiting DNMT. Catechol polyphenols may indirectly inhibit DNMT by generating S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine on their methylation by S-adenosyl-L-methionine. In theory, prevention or reversal of hypermethylation-induced inactivation of key tumor suppression genes or receptor genes by DNMT inhibitors could be an effective approach for cancer prevention. Because of the rather low bioavailability of most polyphenolic compounds, how much of an effect dietary polyphenols would have on DNA methylation in humans is not clear. The effect of normal dietary consumption of a single polyphenolic compound is probably insignificant. However, the combination of polyphenols with dietary histone deacetylase inhibitors and the additive effect of different dietary chemicals may produce some effects. On the other hand, the consumption of excessive amounts of polyphenols in dietary supplements may affect DNA methylation status. All these possibilities remain to be examined.

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Insufficient oxygen supply (hypoxia), short half-life (<40 ns) of singlet oxygen, and up-regulation of the heat shock protein expression in solid tumors impede the photodynamic and photothermal therapeutic efficacy. Herein, a near-infrared carrier-free nanoconjugate directacting antiviral (DAA) with synergistic antivascular activity and pH-responsive photodynamic/photothermal behavior was designed and synthesized to improve cancer treatment efficacy. Obtained by the self-assembly approach, the biocompatible DAA nanoparticles (NPs) displayed amplifying pH-responsive photodynamic/photothermal performance in an acidic tumor microenvironment due to the protonation of diethylaminophenyl units. Most important, the antivascular agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid, targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor, can be smartly released from the pro-drug DAA via ester bond hydrolysis at the subacid endocytosis organelles in the endothelial cells, which can effectively destroy the vascular region to prevent tumor proliferation and metastasis. Hence, DAA NPs can specifically target vascular endothelial cells and tumorous lysosomes with desired cellular damage properties in vitro. Therefore, the tumors can be ablated completely with no recurrence and side effects in vivo, which implies that DAA NPs provide a promising approach for cancer treatment via synergistic antivascular activity and photodynamic/photothermal therapy.

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