Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy

The reactivation of senescence in cancer and the subsequent clearance of senescent cells are suggested as therapeutic intervention in the eradication of cancer. Several natural compounds that activate Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2) pathway, which is involved in complex cy...

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Main Authors: Marco Malavolta, Massimo Bracci, Lory Santarelli, Md Abu Sayeed, Elisa Pierpaoli, Robertina Giacconi, Laura Costarelli, Francesco Piacenza, Andrea Basso, Maurizio Cardelli, Mauro Provinciali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4159013
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author Marco Malavolta
Massimo Bracci
Lory Santarelli
Md Abu Sayeed
Elisa Pierpaoli
Robertina Giacconi
Laura Costarelli
Francesco Piacenza
Andrea Basso
Maurizio Cardelli
Mauro Provinciali
author_facet Marco Malavolta
Massimo Bracci
Lory Santarelli
Md Abu Sayeed
Elisa Pierpaoli
Robertina Giacconi
Laura Costarelli
Francesco Piacenza
Andrea Basso
Maurizio Cardelli
Mauro Provinciali
author_sort Marco Malavolta
collection DOAJ
description The reactivation of senescence in cancer and the subsequent clearance of senescent cells are suggested as therapeutic intervention in the eradication of cancer. Several natural compounds that activate Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2) pathway, which is involved in complex cytoprotective responses, have been paradoxically shown to induce cell death or senescence in cancer. Promoting the cytoprotective Nrf2 pathway may be desirable for chemoprevention, but it might be detrimental in later stages and advanced cancers. However, senolytic activity shown by some Nrf2-activating compounds could be used to target senescent cancer cells (particularly in aged immune-depressed organisms) that escape immunosurveillance. We herein describe in vitro and in vivo effects of fifteen Nrf2-interacting natural compounds (tocotrienols, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, genistein, resveratrol, silybin, phenethyl isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, triptolide, allicin, berberine, piperlongumine, fisetin, and phloretin) on cellular senescence and discuss their use in adjuvant cancer therapy. In light of available literature, it can be concluded that the meaning and the potential of adjuvant therapy with natural compounds in humans remain unclear, also taking into account the existence of few clinical trials mostly characterized by uncertain results. Further studies are needed to investigate the therapeutic potential of those compounds that display senolytic activity.
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spelling doaj-art-b66c35a74a604cb3acbbf42c0d63bb852025-08-20T03:20:54ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612018-01-01201810.1155/2018/41590134159013Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant TherapyMarco Malavolta0Massimo Bracci1Lory Santarelli2Md Abu Sayeed3Elisa Pierpaoli4Robertina Giacconi5Laura Costarelli6Francesco Piacenza7Andrea Basso8Maurizio Cardelli9Mauro Provinciali10Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60126, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60126, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60126, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyAdvanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA), Ancona 60121, ItalyThe reactivation of senescence in cancer and the subsequent clearance of senescent cells are suggested as therapeutic intervention in the eradication of cancer. Several natural compounds that activate Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2) pathway, which is involved in complex cytoprotective responses, have been paradoxically shown to induce cell death or senescence in cancer. Promoting the cytoprotective Nrf2 pathway may be desirable for chemoprevention, but it might be detrimental in later stages and advanced cancers. However, senolytic activity shown by some Nrf2-activating compounds could be used to target senescent cancer cells (particularly in aged immune-depressed organisms) that escape immunosurveillance. We herein describe in vitro and in vivo effects of fifteen Nrf2-interacting natural compounds (tocotrienols, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, genistein, resveratrol, silybin, phenethyl isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, triptolide, allicin, berberine, piperlongumine, fisetin, and phloretin) on cellular senescence and discuss their use in adjuvant cancer therapy. In light of available literature, it can be concluded that the meaning and the potential of adjuvant therapy with natural compounds in humans remain unclear, also taking into account the existence of few clinical trials mostly characterized by uncertain results. Further studies are needed to investigate the therapeutic potential of those compounds that display senolytic activity.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4159013
spellingShingle Marco Malavolta
Massimo Bracci
Lory Santarelli
Md Abu Sayeed
Elisa Pierpaoli
Robertina Giacconi
Laura Costarelli
Francesco Piacenza
Andrea Basso
Maurizio Cardelli
Mauro Provinciali
Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
Mediators of Inflammation
title Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
title_full Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
title_fullStr Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
title_short Inducers of Senescence, Toxic Compounds, and Senolytics: The Multiple Faces of Nrf2-Activating Phytochemicals in Cancer Adjuvant Therapy
title_sort inducers of senescence toxic compounds and senolytics the multiple faces of nrf2 activating phytochemicals in cancer adjuvant therapy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4159013
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