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Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in Cancer Research: The Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals and Bioactive Compounds with Defined Mechanisms and Safety Profiles

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Systematic Review or Meta-Analysis in Cancer Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2026 | Viewed by 1374

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of Cellular Growth, Hemodynamic and Homeostasis Disorders, Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 01246-903, SP, Brazil
Interests: phytochemicals; bioactive compounds; functional foods; natural products; anticancer activity; metabolic health; metabolomics; mechanisms of action; pharmacokinetics; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory effects; nutraceuticals; translational research; personalized nutrition; systems biology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Phytochemicals and bioactive compounds derived from natural sources continue to offer promising avenues for cancer prevention and therapy. However, translating these natural products into clinically relevant treatments requires a clear understanding of their active constituents, molecular mechanisms, and safety profiles. This Special Issue of Cancers aims to collect high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses that critically evaluate the anticancer efficacy, molecular targets, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of well-characterized bioactive compounds and phytochemicals.

We particularly welcome submissions focusing on:

  • Defined active ingredients or isolated compounds from natural sources with demonstrated anticancer activity.
  • Comprehensive evaluations of mechanisms of action, dose–response relationships, and selectivity toward cancer cells.
  • Studies incorporating in vivo and in vitro toxicity assessments to support translational relevance.
  • Meta-analyses integrating preclinical and clinical data on safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential.
  • Critical reviews identifying knowledge gaps, methodological challenges, and future research directions in the field of natural bioactives in cancer therapy.

By emphasizing rigor, reproducibility, and mechanistic clarity, this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians seeking to integrate evidence-based natural compounds into modern oncology.

Dr. Lucas Fornari Laurindo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • phytochemicals in cancer therapy
  • bioactive natural compounds
  • systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • molecular mechanisms of anticancer agents
  • translational oncology
  • pharmacokinetics and toxicity of natural products
  • evidence-based integrative oncology
  • natural product drug discovery
  • chemoprevention and cancer therapeutics
  • mechanistic and safety profiling of phytochemicals

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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27 pages, 2217 KB  
Systematic Review
Bioactive Natural Products Targeting Androgen Receptor Signaling in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review
by Febby Pratama, Dhania Novitasari, Richa Mardianingrum, Holis Abdul Holik, Nur Kusaira Khairul Ikram and Muchtaridi Muchtaridi
Cancers 2026, 18(5), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18050786 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 906
Abstract
Background: Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of male cancer-related mortality, largely driven by the dysregulated activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic [...] Read more.
Background: Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of male cancer-related mortality, largely driven by the dysregulated activation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review aims to consolidate contemporary evidence regarding natural products as bioactive alternatives capable of targeting the AR signaling axis. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The review identified and qualitatively analyzed 15 original research studies that investigated the efficacy and mechanisms of various natural compounds in modulating AR signaling. Results: The analysis reveals that natural products deactivate the AR signaling axis through diverse mechanisms. Neoisoliquiritin and α-terthienyl were found to suppress AR expression, activity, and nuclear translocation. Notably, α-mangostin facilitates the degradation of the AR-V7 splice variant, a key driver of treatment resistance. Manzamine A inhibits AR biosynthesis by targeting the transcription factor E2F8. Furthermore, alternative pathways are modulated through 5-α-reductase inhibition (Annona muricata compounds) and the activation of the non-classical membrane receptor ZIP9 by (-)-epicatechin to induce apoptosis. Conclusions: The emergence of resistance, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), necessitates the exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches. This systematic review consolidates contemporary evidence regarding natural products as potential bioactive alternatives for modulating the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis. Rather than providing a definitive clinical roadmap, this work establishes a preclinical framework for identifying substances that may deactivate the receptor, break down its resistant forms, or prevent nuclear translocation. Full article
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