Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence
Introduction and aim: Radiotherapy is a fundamental component of cancer treatment but is limited by tumor radioresistance and damage to healthy tissues. Polyphenols—plant-derived compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties—have gained attention for their potential to mo...
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| Format: | Article |
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Kazimierz Wielki University
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60362 |
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| author | Maksymilian Wiśniowski Klaudia Kulig Ada Wiśniowska Kacper Buczek Patrycja Zwierzchlewska Katarzyna Kulszo Bartłomiej Baszun Piotr Bijak Aleksandra Kozłowska Julia Dąbrowska |
| author_facet | Maksymilian Wiśniowski Klaudia Kulig Ada Wiśniowska Kacper Buczek Patrycja Zwierzchlewska Katarzyna Kulszo Bartłomiej Baszun Piotr Bijak Aleksandra Kozłowska Julia Dąbrowska |
| author_sort | Maksymilian Wiśniowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction and aim: Radiotherapy is a fundamental component of cancer treatment but is limited by tumor radioresistance and damage to healthy tissues. Polyphenols—plant-derived compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties—have gained attention for their potential to modulate radiotherapy outcomes. This review aims to evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence on the effects of selected polyphenols in combination with radiotherapy.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from the last two decades. Search terms included: radiotherapy, radiation. polyphenols, curcumin, genistein, chrysin, ellagic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, apigenin, epicatechin, kaempferol, caffeic acid, gallic acid. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were included, as well as available clinical trials.
Results: Several polyphenols—including curcumin, genistein, ellagic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin—demonstrated the ability to enhance radiosensitivity in tumor cells or protect normal tissues. Curcumin and genistein have shown early clinical benefits, particularly in head and neck and prostate cancer patients. However, most polyphenols remain in the preclinical stage.
Conclusion: Polyphenols show promise as adjuncts to radiotherapy, with context-dependent radiosensitizing or radioprotective effects. Further clinical trials are necessary to validate efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing before integration into standard oncology protocols.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48724b7b522542eb96c6b7a56ddbf83e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2391-8306 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Kazimierz Wielki University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-48724b7b522542eb96c6b7a56ddbf83e2025-08-20T02:39:28ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-06-018210.12775/JEHS.2025.82.60362Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidenceMaksymilian Wiśniowski0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2470-3074Klaudia Kulig1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1569-4180Ada Wiśniowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8703-8527Kacper Buczek3https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0521-3536Patrycja Zwierzchlewskahttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-8073-1042Katarzyna Kulszo4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-9714Bartłomiej Baszun5https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1694-4268Piotr Bijak6https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7107-6914Aleksandra Kozłowska7https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6900-2196Julia Dąbrowska8https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0903-3603Medical University of LublinMedical University of LublinWarsaw Medical UniversityMedical University of LublinMedical University of LublinMedical University of LublinMedical University of LublinMedical University of LublinMedical University of Lublin Introduction and aim: Radiotherapy is a fundamental component of cancer treatment but is limited by tumor radioresistance and damage to healthy tissues. Polyphenols—plant-derived compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties—have gained attention for their potential to modulate radiotherapy outcomes. This review aims to evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence on the effects of selected polyphenols in combination with radiotherapy. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from the last two decades. Search terms included: radiotherapy, radiation. polyphenols, curcumin, genistein, chrysin, ellagic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, apigenin, epicatechin, kaempferol, caffeic acid, gallic acid. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were included, as well as available clinical trials. Results: Several polyphenols—including curcumin, genistein, ellagic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin—demonstrated the ability to enhance radiosensitivity in tumor cells or protect normal tissues. Curcumin and genistein have shown early clinical benefits, particularly in head and neck and prostate cancer patients. However, most polyphenols remain in the preclinical stage. Conclusion: Polyphenols show promise as adjuncts to radiotherapy, with context-dependent radiosensitizing or radioprotective effects. Further clinical trials are necessary to validate efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing before integration into standard oncology protocols. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60362RadiotherapyradiationPolyphenolsCurcuminGenisteinChrysin |
| spellingShingle | Maksymilian Wiśniowski Klaudia Kulig Ada Wiśniowska Kacper Buczek Patrycja Zwierzchlewska Katarzyna Kulszo Bartłomiej Baszun Piotr Bijak Aleksandra Kozłowska Julia Dąbrowska Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence Journal of Education, Health and Sport Radiotherapy radiation Polyphenols Curcumin Genistein Chrysin |
| title | Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| title_full | Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| title_fullStr | Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| title_short | Polyphenols and radiotherapy: literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| title_sort | polyphenols and radiotherapy literature review of preclinical and clinical evidence |
| topic | Radiotherapy radiation Polyphenols Curcumin Genistein Chrysin |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60362 |
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