Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer: Recent Research Trends and Clinical Applications

Sheeba Varghese Gupta, Yashwant V Pathak

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781138593916
• eBook ISBN: 9780429950957
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Oncology

Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals such as Vitamin A and D, Omega-3 and probiotics are used as part of the cancer treatment as complimenting the main therapy. Several Nutraceuticals have shown to boost the immune responses, while emerging clinical studies and other research suggests that some plant-based agents may, indeed, impact late-stage cancer, influencing molecular processes corrupted by tumor cells to evade detection, expand clonally, and invade surrounding tissues.

Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer: Recent Research Trends and Clinical Applications

is an attempt to collect evidence and related clinical information of application of Nutraceuticals to be used in cancer treatment or compliment the cancer treatment. It contains 16 chapters written by experts in related field's and covers many different aspects of the formulation and development of Nutraceuticals for cancer applications. This book covers efficacy, safety and toxicological aspects of nutraceuticals. It also addresses various novel drug delivery systems of nutraceuticals with anticancer properties, as well as nutraceuticals as supplements for cancer prevention.

Features:

• 
  
  

• Offers a comprehensive view of neutraceuticals' role in cancer prevention and treatment

• 
  
  

• Covers the applications and implications of neutraceuticals in prostate, colorectal, breast and gynecological cancers

• 
  
  

• Discusses the principles of neutrigenomics and neutrigenetics in cancer prevention

• 
  
  

• Explors the role of probiotics and micronutrients in cancer treatment and prevention

Nutraceuticals can alter the gut microbiota. Gut microbiome undergoes changes during the disease status and followed by the cancer treatment. Nutraceutical's role in proliferation and prevention of gynecological cancers, nutraceutical's role in proliferation and prevention of prostate cancer and role of micronutrients in cancer prevention, both pros and cons, are some of the topics discussed in various chapters in this book. This book is addressed to scientists, clinicians, and students who are working in the area of Nutraceutical applications in cancer treatment.

1	Role of Micronutrients in Cancer Prevention and Intervention—Pros and Cons
	Anjelika Chatwal and Yashwant V. Pathak

CONTENTS

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Micronutrient Background

1.1.2 The Cell Cycle and Tumor Growth

1.2 Use of Micronutrients Pros vs Cons

1.2.1 Accessibility to Micronutrients

1.2.2 Alleviation of Chemotherapy-Induced Symptoms and Influence of Response to Chemotherapeutic Agents

1.2.3 Overconsumption of Nutrients Affecting Cancer Prognosis and Mortality

1.2.4 Specific Micronutrients Affect Certain Cancers

1.3 Conclusions

1.4 Future Trends

References

1.1 INTRODUCTION

By the end of the twenty-first century, cancer, a noncommunicable disease, will be the leading cause of death among both men and women, surpassing the most common causes: heart disease and stroke. Of roughly 18 million incidences, approximately 9 million will lead to death [1]. With the rising incidences of cancer in both developing and advanced countries, the necessity for alternative types of therapies for prevention and intervention before and during treatments has grown immensely. There have been countless promising theories and hypotheses that have been developed to evaluate the efficiency of altering one’s diet to include micronutrients and antioxidants to contribute to the prevention of cancer [2]. While other factors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking, act on cancer amplification, eventually leading to death, it has been suggested that preventing cancer through the diet has accounted for a percentage of those who have cancer [2]. Since any food that a person eats can have direct impact on their health, patients tend to gravitate toward popular diets, such as the vegan, ketogenic, Paleolithic, and alkaline, that might contribute to their survival [3]. Some believe that combined with general treatments, natural substances can target cells within the body to elicit effects [4].

However, the efficacy of these alternate diets and supplemental treatments has been doubted, as the use of either could promote unrealistic outcomes and properties relating to cancer recovery [3]. Even worse, patients who rely on these diets for an alternative without consulting their physicians can become nutrient deficient, which can further compromise their treatments [3]. The role of adding micronutrients in the diet in order to prevent cancer from developing and becoming malignant has been controversial in cancer research. Most studies regarding this area of research express the need for further experiments to be done in order to establish more concrete conclusions and results about the varying micronutrients that can contribute potential effects on cancer. Some papers suggest that efforts to study the potential treatments for cancer prevention should begin with high-risk groups through different levels of population so that a broader scope is defined [5]. Does implementing these necessary dietary factors truly contribute to preventing diseases such as cancer? We will first need to understand the classification and characteristics of micronutrients to have a better insight of how our bodies utilize and metabolize these factors and what they can potentially do in the cancer mechanisms.

1.1.1 MICRONUTRIENT BACKGROUND

Micronutrients are classified as elements that we cannot synthesize in our bodies [6]. Certain metabolic and biosynthetic pathways in our bodies require a variety of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that have properties necessary for these pathways and mechanisms to function properly. What makes micronutrients special is that in order to maintain these processes, our systems only need small amounts for adequate growth and development—hence their name, micronutrients. Antioxidants, on the other hand, are substances that can delay or prevent the oxidation of a substrate when present in low concentrations, in comparison to substrates that are more likely to be oxidized [7]. These are also helpful in preventing more oxidative damages from occurring in the body, as they, themselves, are redox-active substances that can act as catalyzers and active cofactors for enzymes [8]. Some others act as stabilizing proteins and enzyme activators [8].

Since we cannot physically develop these factors in our bodies, we must ingest them through foods that are rich in vitamins A, B12, C, D, and E and various other substances and through supplements [9]. Micronutrients can be found as part of specific substances, such as antioxidant enzymes, which include superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In layman’s terms, superoxide dismutase includes elements such as manganese, copper, and zinc, while glutathione peroxidase includes selenium [10]. Additionally, phytochemicals, which are described as plant-based nutrients that are not essential for our overall diets, include carotenoids, flavonoids, curcumins, and resveratrol [11]. While these substances may seem far-fetched for the common person, they are actually found in most of the everyday foods. Carotenoids are typically found in carrots, flavonoids in fruits, wine, green tea, and other dietary factors, and curcumin in turmeric [12].

The various metabolic processes within our bodies can generate chemical errors or toxic by products, such as superoxide, reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen, or reactive chlorine species [10]. Although some parts of our body systems function by utilizing these reactive species in beneficial ways, like killing bacterial organisms, uncontrolled production of these species can spark the need for substances that act as defenses to protect the body’s normal processes from spiraling out of control. Micronutrients, as part of antioxidants, work to recycle, protect against, or remove certain reactive species that build up past their needs [10]. These substances all have their own unique mechanisms of action that work on the cellular processes in order to protect against oxidative and environmental stressors [13]. For instance, selenium deficiencies can contribute to diseases like cancer, indicating that researching its molecular processes is significant in determining how implementing selenium in the diet can help prevent illnesses [14]. Selenoproteins, proteins that contain selenium, have important physiological roles in the body. These are redox-active proteins that have roles of repairing oxidatively damaged proteins, quality control, and protein folding and can act as targets for new therapies for a number of diseases [14].

1.1.2 THE CELL CYCLE AND TUMOR GROWTH

Comprehending how micronutrients affect the cellular processes within our bodies is essential to realizing the role they have in cancer prevention and intervention. Normally, the cells in our bodies undergo cell cycles, in which they grow, replicate their DNA, and divide. However, cancerous cells undergo these cycles without proper signaling pathways and mechanisms that regulate errors and uncontrolled proliferation [15]. The cycle includes four phases as explained below. There are the checkpoints and signaling pathways involving regulatory mechanisms that are meant to prevent unnecessary cell growth and encourage apoptosis of cells that are damaged. If genetic mutations arise, these mechanisms or proteins found at the regulatory checkpoints can malfunction, causing cell proliferation of potential tumor-causing cells [15].

G1—the gap phase, involving cell growth and preparation to synthesize DNA

S—synthesis phase, where the cell synthesizes DNA

G2—second gap phase, involving preparation for division

M—mitosis phase, where cell division finally occurs

The various micronutrients studied are likely to target various regulatory proteins, checkpoints, and signaling pathways that are found within the cell cycle, as well as other metabolic processes, such as glycolysis [16]. For instance, if vitamin A was to impact the cell cycle, it would most likely induce apoptosis or encourage cell differentiation, which would in turn limit cell proliferation [17]. This means that the G1 phase would be affected, as cell growth would shut down. Looking at the micronutrients in this manner, we can assess the ability of these factors and substances to limit tumor growth in individuals, and therefore the most effective ways they can be implemented in research and treatments.

1.2 USE OF MICRONUTRIENTS PROS VS CONS

1.2.1 ACCESSIBILITY TO MICRONUTRIENTS

An obvious benefit of utilizing micronutrients as supplements to chemotherapy is the fact that they are widely accessible in the market. Vitamins and minerals can be found in varying doses over the counter. In this way, studies that demonstrate how micronutrients are involved in cancer prevention and alleviation, biologically, are significant so that people can understand that, if needed for treatments, these supplements are readily available to them.

With the development of evidence suggesting the powerful anticancer effects that micronutrients and phytochemicals carry through their cell signaling pathways, newer methods of incorporating these into the everyday lives of individuals combatting cancer are being tested. General plans may not have a strong effect for all patients, as they would have differing symptoms and reactions to their treatments. However, creating personalized supplements for patient according to their necessary clinical treatments and needs is a leading goal in terms of utilizing phytochemicals for clinical use [18]. Once the molecular actions of phytochemicals on specific cancer cell targets are proven, the next step of assessing the proper phytochemicals to use as supplemental treatments for each clinical case would introduce the ease of accessing these supplements for the diet. This study, expanding on previous studies of the usefulness of phytochemicals in health, demonstrates how healing supplements can be developed in a personalized manner to make it easier for those who have these illnesses to acquire the nutrients they need to act as anticancer agents. Thus, personalized evaluations based on the evidence are more useful for these kinds of treatments [19].

Apart from micronutrients available in the market as dosed supplements, the necessary vitamins and minerals that are studied in relation to certain types of cancers can be acquired through dietary intake. In fact, the lack of a proper diet can be a risk factor for some cancers, highlighting the significance of micronutrients stemming from a person’s diet [20]. The quality of a patient’s diet is studied in order to assess how their food intake affects mechanisms of their chemotherapy, if it does at all. Therefore, the accessibility one has to micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, is significant, as they can be found in most foods.

For instance, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is commonly found in our everyday lives. Apart from being an antioxidant, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is classified as a “functional food.” Functional foods refer to those that are natural or processed and contain biologically active substances that are proven to have some benefit for chronic illnesses [7]. Most people think of orange juice, since the citrus contains this valuable essence, but there is a variety of foods, including fresh greens, fruits, and vegetables, that allow for more absorption of this vitamin and other vitamins beyond that of just orange juice, especially compared to supplemental pills and tablets. Since this antioxidant is water soluble, it is eliminated quickly and is not able to be stored in our bodies. Aside from this, our bodies are unable to produce this vitamin naturally due to an absent catalyzer, gulonolactone oxidase, for the an enzyme in the last step in the biosynthesis pathway, so incorporating more vitamin C-rich foods into our diets is the most significant way for us to gain its effects [7]. As mentioned, many foods contain numerous vitamins and minerals, and the best way our bodies can absorb the nutrients from the vitamins is in combination with others. For example, vitamins C and E inhibit oxidation together, and vitamin C helps to reestablish vitamin E levels if they start to decline [7].

1.2.2 ALLEVIATION OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED SYMPTOMS AND INFLUENCE OF RESPONSE TO CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS

Physicians tend to lean on more tangible therapeutics when it comes to certain diseases, such as cancer. Their primary focus would be to utilize chemotherapy and drugs targeted for the specific kinds of cancers that they see, but newer studies are demonstrating a shift to incorporating micronutrients in diets, which could potentially enhance the efficacy of some of the drugs used in chemotherapeutic treatments and the outcomes of patients. While other factors, such as genetic instability, can affect how tumor cells replicate and proliferate, studies indicate that the intake of vitamins, minerals, certain antioxidants, specific natural phenols, such as resveratrol, and carotenoids, can in some way influence how tumor cells respond to antitumor drugs [20]. For instance, green leafy vegetables and fruits can impact responses, in that they are asso...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Editors
• Contributors
• Chapter 1 Role of Micronutrients in Cancer Prevention and Intervention—Pros and Cons
• Chapter 2 Nutraceuticals as Supplements for Cancer Prevention
• Chapter 3 Nutraceutical’s Role in Proliferation and Prevention of Prostate Cancer
• Chapter 4 Nutraceutical’s Role in Proliferation and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer
• Chapter 5 Nutraceuticals’ Role in Proliferation and Prevention of Breast Cancer
• Chapter 6 Nutraceutical’s Role in Proliferation and Prevention of Gynecological Cancers
• Chapter 7 Mechanism and Role of Probiotics in Suppressing Bowel Cancer
• Chapter 8 Effect of Nutraceuticals on Gut Microbiota—What Is the Deal in Cancer?
• Chapter 9 Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics in Cancer Prevention
• Chapter 10 Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Nutraceuticals with Anticancer Properties
• Chapter 11 Delivery Strategies and Formulation Approaches of Anticancer Nutraceuticals
• Chapter 12 Efficacy, Safety, and Toxicological Aspects of Nutraceuticals
• Chapter 13 Dietary Habits and Susceptibility to Various Cancers
• Chapter 14 Indian Diet and Cancer Prevention
• Chapter 15 Dietary Isoflavones-Mechanism and Efficacy in Cancer Prevention and Treatment
• Index