The Effects of Capsaicin on Gastrointestinal Cancers
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Department of Medical Oncology II, “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Trestioreanu” Institute of Oncology, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Physiology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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Departament of Pneumology IV, “Marius Nasta” Institute of Pneumophtysiology, 050159 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Dermatology, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
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Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Clinic, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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Immunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Pathology, Colentina University Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 76201 Bucharest, Romania
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Department of Dermatology, Prof. N.C. Paulescu National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 011233 Bucharest, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Man-Kyo Chung; Derek J. McPhee
Molecules 2021, 26(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010094
Received: 4 November 2020
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Revised: 22 December 2020
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Accepted: 24 December 2020
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Published: 28 December 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Capsicum: Traditional Uses, Biactive Compounds and Biological Activities)
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a group of diseases with very high positions in the ranking of cancer incidence and mortality. While they show common features regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development, organ-specific pathophysiological processes may trigger distinct signaling pathways and intricate interactions with inflammatory cells from the tumoral milieu and mediators involved in tumorigenesis. The treatment of GI cancers is a topic of increasing interest due to the severity of these diseases, their impact on the patients’ survivability and quality of life, and the burden they set on the healthcare system. As the efficiency of existing drugs is hindered by chemoresistance and adverse reactions when administered in high doses, new therapies are sought, and emerging drugs, formulations, and substance synergies are the focus of a growing number of studies. A class of chemicals with great potential through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumoral effects is phytochemicals, and capsaicin in particular is the subject of intensive research looking to validate its position in complementing cancer treatment. Our paper thoroughly reviews the available scientific evidence concerning the effects of capsaicin on major GI cancers and its interactions with the molecular pathways involved in the course of these diseases.
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Keywords:
capsaicin; digestive cancer; tumorigenesis; apoptosis; molecular signaling
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MDPI and ACS Style
Popescu, G.D.A.; Scheau, C.; Badarau, I.A.; Dumitrache, M.-D.; Caruntu, A.; Scheau, A.-E.; Costache, D.O.; Costache, R.S.; Constantin, C.; Neagu, M.; Caruntu, C. The Effects of Capsaicin on Gastrointestinal Cancers. Molecules 2021, 26, 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010094
AMA Style
Popescu GDA, Scheau C, Badarau IA, Dumitrache M-D, Caruntu A, Scheau A-E, Costache DO, Costache RS, Constantin C, Neagu M, Caruntu C. The Effects of Capsaicin on Gastrointestinal Cancers. Molecules. 2021; 26(1):94. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010094
Chicago/Turabian StylePopescu, George D.A., Cristian Scheau, Ioana A. Badarau, Mihai-Daniel Dumitrache, Ana Caruntu, Andreea-Elena Scheau, Daniel O. Costache, Raluca S. Costache, Carolina Constantin, Monica Neagu, and Constantin Caruntu. 2021. "The Effects of Capsaicin on Gastrointestinal Cancers" Molecules 26, no. 1: 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010094
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