Chemopreventive and Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals and Their Analogs against Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

As per the data from World Health Organization (WHO), cancers remain a leading cause of death and accounted for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 alone, contributing to an excessive social and economic burden around the globe. Unarguably, both cancer research and modern medicine have made significant advancements in predicting cancer risk, early detection, and diagnosis. Additionally, focused/personalized treatment of different cancers has helped effectively treat cancers, improve the prognosis and quality of life of affected individuals and decrease cancer-related mortality. Notably, 25–28% of modern medicines used to treat various diseases (including several efficacious anticancer drugs that can suppress the initiation, progression, metastatic spread, and relapse of cancers) are naturally sourced or plant-based compounds/derivatives or their potent structural analogs. These phytochemicals target neoplasticity-triggering mechanisms (such as DNA damage, epigenetic modifications, metabolic alterations, chronic inflammation, interactions between aberrant molecular pathways, inhibition of apoptosis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis) and their related molecular pathways.

Unfortunately, modern medicine is short of new and targeted therapeutic approaches. At the same time, there remains an unmet need to develop cancer prevention strategies and improve treatment strategies to benefit those already affected. Using ‘naturally’ occurring reliable drugs combined with conventional anticancer treatment approaches (surgery, chemo- and/or radiotherapy) could help overcome some of the challenges currently faced in cancer therapeutics (such as acquired drug resistance, cancer stem cells, metastasis, and cancer relapse). Additionally, modern medicine is fast embracing the need for preventive, personalized, precision medicine (3P medicine), and drugs tailored to treat patients on a case-by-case basis are becoming increasingly important.

As a follow up of our successful Special Issue in Biomolecules, entitled “Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in the Management of Cancer: Significance and Challenges”, this Special Issue focuses on the potential and efficacy of naturally derived substances (phytochemicals) and their structural analogs in preventing different cancers and in cancer therapy. We invite original research articles and reviews on phytochemicals and structural analogs in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics. The topics include, but are not limited to: (1) novel strategies for the extraction, (2) purification and characterization of natural compounds with anticancer activity; (3) novel methodological approaches to enhance the bioavailability of phytochemicals; (4) in-vitro- and in-vivo-based cancer models that evaluate various therapeutic targets of phytochemicals on various aspects of cancer treatment; and (5) clinical investigations into the role of the phytochemical/derivatives on cancer risk, treatment, and survival. Please note that manuscripts on crude extracts without identified active ingredients are not encouraged and cannot be considered for publication as per journal policy.

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Büsselberg
Dr. Samson Mathews Samuel
Prof. Dr. Peter Kubatka
Guest Editors

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