Chemopreventive and Therapeutic Effects of Edible Berries: A Focus on Colon Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Abstract

Abstract:Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases across the world. Numerous epidemiological studies indicate that diets rich in fruit, such as berries, provide significant health benefits against several types of cancer, including colon cancer. The anticancer activities of berries are attributed to their high content of phytochemicals and to their relevant antioxidant properties. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that berries and their bioactive components exert therapeutic and preventive effects against colon cancer by the suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, proliferation and angiogenesis, through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/PKB/mTOR, and ERK/MAPK. Based on the exciting outcomes of preclinical studies, a few berries have advanced to the clinical phase. A limited number of human studies have shown that consumption of berries can prevent colorectal cancer, especially in patients at high risk (familial adenopolyposis or aberrant crypt foci, and inflammatory bowel diseases). In this review, we aim to highlight the findings of berries and their bioactive compounds in colon cancer from in vitro and in vivo studies, both on animals and humans. Thus, this review could be a useful step towards the next phase of berry research in colon cancer.

PRKAR1A is a functional tumor suppressor inhibiting ERK/Snail/E-cadherin pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

“…Therefore, we speculated that PRKAR1A induces EMT by regulating Snail1. In our vitro experiments, we further elucidated that PRKAR1A deficiency up-regulated snail expression by the activation of ERK pathway, which was critical for the initiation and progression of numerous cancers414243. ERK kinase could activate Snail to further regulate EMT4445.…”

Halofuginone may suppresses azoxymethane-induced serum tumor necrosis factor-a synthesis and aberrant crypt foci progression in rat colon

“…a, b : Different letters in the same row indicate that differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05). ability to induce apoptosis (Khan et al, 2013;Afrin et al, 2016). In this study, the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects of HLF, combined with induction of apoptosis may be responsible for the decrease in size and number of ACF.…”

An immunological perspective for preventing cancer with berries

“…It is known, however, that phytochemicals can modulate the immune response by targeting key immune cells that control the pro- or anti-inflammatory microenvironment, thus helping to suppress tumor progression [11]. Moreover, these compounds vary so greatly in structure and function that they can target a wide range of cancer cells, immune cells and their cytokines [12–26]. …”