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Dave et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2020;6:46 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2020.106 Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Phytochemicals and cancer chemoprevention

Asim Dave *, Falguni Parande *, Eun-Jung Park , John M. Pezzuto 1,2
1,
1,
1
1 Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
2 College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Western New England University, Springfield, MA 01119-2684, USA.
*Contributed equally and should be viewed as first co-authors.
Correspondence to: John M. Pezzuto, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Western New England University, 1215
Wilbraham Rd., Springfield, MA 01119-2684, USA. E-mail: John.Pezzuto@wne.edu

How to cite this article: Dave A, Parande F, Park EJ, Pezzuto JM. Phytochemicals and Cancer Chemoprevention. J Cancer
Metastasis Treat 2020;6:46. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2020.106

Received: 24 Sep 2020 First Decision: 12 Oct 2020 Revised: 05 Nov 2020 Accepted: 18 Nov 2020 Published: 30 Nov 2020

Academic Editor: Sanjay Gupta Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
The unending morbidity and mortality that results from cancer, as well as adverse reactions due to chemotherapy
and the enormous economic burden of treatment and hospitalization, advocates for the necessity of
chemopreventive measures. Cancer chemoprevention refers to the use of agents capable of reversing, reducing,
or slowing down the pathology of cancer at various stages. Fortunately, a few therapeutic drugs with relatively
low toxicity (e.g., tamoxifen, finasteride), and a sparse number of vaccines (hepatitis B, HPV), are used to prevent
specific cancers. In the general population, however, therapeutic options for cancer prevention are not common.
Nonetheless, it is generally agreed that diet affects the genesis of cancer, and phytochemicals have the capacity
of functioning as cancer chemoprevention agents. This is supported by epidemiological studies and clearly
documented with animal models designed to mimic human carcinogenesis. Additionally, some public health
strategies, such as recommendations for greater consumption of fruits and vegetables, reflect the merits of cancer
chemoprevention. Here, we focus on some well-established natural product cancer chemopreventive agents,
including resveratrol (grapes), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (green tea), sulforaphane (cruciferous vegetables),
anthocyanins (grapes and berries), curcumin (turmeric), silibinin (milk thistle), and lycopene (tomatoes). As aptly
demonstrated by genomic analysis and other methods, the mechanistic underpinning is variable and complex.
In addition, responses may be mediated through indirect mechanisms, such as interaction with the microbiome.
Furthermore, ancillary applications of chemopreventive agents are worthy of consideration, such as management
of sequelae induced by chemotherapy. Recognizing the loss of millions of cancer patients every year, it is obvious
that negating malignant metastatic conditions remains of paramount importance. In meeting this objective, cancer
chemoprevention offers great promise.

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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