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Recent Research on Natural Compounds in Cancer Treatment and Prevention
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Recent Research on Natural Compounds in Cancer Treatment and Prevention

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 1352

Editor

Dr. Katarzyna Lubecka-Gajewska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, 92215 Lodz, Poland
Interests: cancer cell biology; cancer biomarkers; anti-cancer therapy; cancer epigenetics; DNA methylation; nutritional epigenomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of anticancer strategies based on bioactive natural compounds is still an unexplored area. Sporadic neoplastic diseases are frequently associated with aberrant patterns in gene expression, which are reversible and responsive to environmental factors, including diet. Recent reports indicate that some bioactive phytochemicals target the expression of selected genes in cancer and shift their expression profile from tumoral to normal, which is as a result of these compounds' anti-cancer activities. Therefore, there is a critical need to further elucidate natural bioactive compounds and their anticancer mechanisms, as well as identifying new indications and expanding their utility.

Dr. Katarzyna Lubecka-Gajewska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • natural compounds
  • bioactive phytochemicals
  • anticancer therapy
  • chemoprevention

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3831 KB  
Article
Molecular Effects of Parkia speciosa Hassk. Empty Pod Extract in Colon Cancer: A Transcriptomic and Proteomic Perspective
by Athit Chaiwichien, Supawadee Osotprasit, Tepparit Samrit, Stuart J. Smith, Saowaros Suwansa-Ard, Scott F. Cummins, Pornanan Kueakhai and Narin Changklungmoa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(12), 5606; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125606 - 21 Jun 2026
Viewed by 368
Abstract
This study elucidates the multi-targeted antineoplastic mechanisms of Parkia speciosa empty pod extract (PSET) against HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells through integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Phytochemical profiling indicates that PSET is rich in bioactive metabolites, notably quercetin, rutin, and pyrogallol, [...] Read more.
This study elucidates the multi-targeted antineoplastic mechanisms of Parkia speciosa empty pod extract (PSET) against HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells through integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Phytochemical profiling indicates that PSET is rich in bioactive metabolites, notably quercetin, rutin, and pyrogallol, which orchestrate its profound ability to inhibit tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion. Transcriptomic data revealed that PSET profoundly suppresses the oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis while simultaneously activating p53-mediated cell cycle arrest. Complementary proteomic profiling uncovered critical metabolic vulnerabilities, demonstrating that PSET abrogates the Warburg effect by disrupting key glycolytic enzymes (e.g., ENO1, GAPDH, LDHA), thereby inducing metabolic starvation. Furthermore, the extract precipitated a catastrophic collapse of the cytoskeletal architecture and downregulated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, effectively paralyzing the cells’ metastatic machinery. The integrated transcriptomic and proteomic signatures also highlighted an irrecoverable state of cellular stress, characterized by an overwhelming unfolded protein response and dysregulated RNA splicing, ultimately driving the cells toward apoptosis. In conclusion, this integrated omics approach provides robust molecular validation that PSET systemically dismantles colorectal cancer survival networks, highlighting its strong potential as a natural, multi-targeted therapeutic agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Natural Compounds in Cancer Treatment and Prevention)
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Review

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28 pages, 1576 KB  
Review
Co-Exposure to Lunasin and Other Drugs as a Potential Chemopreventive Strategy Against Breast and Colon Cancers: A Review
by Aleksandra Janiak, Agnieszka Kaufman-Szymczyk and Katarzyna Lubecka-Gajewska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 6079; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27136079 - 7 Jul 2026
Viewed by 520
Abstract
More than 20 years after the discovery of lunasin, a clear shift in lunasin research is observable—from an initial focus on its direct in vitro anticancer effects toward strategies aimed at improving its bioavailability and repositioning it as a potential adjunct in cancer [...] Read more.
More than 20 years after the discovery of lunasin, a clear shift in lunasin research is observable—from an initial focus on its direct in vitro anticancer effects toward strategies aimed at improving its bioavailability and repositioning it as a potential adjunct in cancer therapy. Lunasin, a soy-derived bioactive peptide, has been extensively studied for its antineoplastic properties. However, its limited oral bioavailability restrains its efficacy in clinical trials. Therefore, recent research on lunasin points towards the possibility of using it as an adjunct in cancer treatment, rather than as a stand-alone nutraceutical in humans. In preclinical models, in vitro and in vivo, lunasin can enhance the effects of standard anticancer drugs in breast and colon cancers. Research suggests that lunasin can potentiate the effects of drugs, such as tamoxifen, aspirin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin, by sensitizing cancer cells to apoptosis, modulating cell cycle progression, reducing metastatic potential, and attenuating drug-resistance pathways, including PI3K/Akt, FAK/MAPK1/NF-κB, and integrin-mediated signaling. In combination with those drugs, lunasin exerts significant anticancer effects at concentrations substantially lower than those proven as effective in monotherapy, suggesting a potential role in dose reduction in conventional agents and, subsequently, mitigation of their adverse effects. Although the enhanced effect of those combinations has been shown in preclinical models, there is a distinct lack of human clinical trials in this matter. Available evidence supports a promising concept of lunasin as a molecular “priming” agent that might complement cytotoxic therapies rather than replace them. This combination-oriented paradigm may represent a shift in lunasin research and offer a novel direction for the use of bioactive peptides in precision oncology; however, further studies exploring this possibility, including human clinical trials, are needed to elucidate lunasin’s role in nutraceutical-assisted cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Natural Compounds in Cancer Treatment and Prevention)
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