Title:Regulation of MicroRNAs by Phytochemicals: A Promising Strategy for Cancer Chemoprevention
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 7
Author(s): Sadegh Babashah*, Babak Bakhshinejad, Maryam Tahmasebi Birgani, Katayoon Pakravan and William C. Cho*
Affiliation:Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon
Keywords:Cancer, Chemoprevention, MicroRNA, Phytochemical, miRNA regulation, DNA repair.
Abstract:A growing body of evidence suggests that phytochemicals are potentially able to affect a
variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, cell-cycle control, angiogenesis, inflammation,
and DNA repair. Phytochemicals may typically play pleiotropic regulatory roles in cancer
cells. Chemoprevention, which can be achieved by using these natural agents, has emerged as a
helpful strategy to manage a variety of malignancies. With regard to cancer-associated chemopreventive
mechanisms, phytochemicals can act by modulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target
genes. This review aims to present an overview of recent findings on the effects of some wellcharacterized
bioactive phytochemicals on miRNA regulation in different cancer types. The potential
use of these phytochemicals for the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer is also discussed.