[SCAN] Unveiling the protective role of food bioactive compounds towards colorectal cancer

Unveiling the protective role of food bioactive compounds towards colorectal cancer

Ana Teresa Serra

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity through the world. Extensive research has been suggesting that nutrition may carry a protective role in CRC development. Within this context, the benefits of Mediterranean diet on CRC protection has been reported. In particular, the intake of cruciferous vegetables of the Brassicaceae family (e.g., broccoli and watercress) has been associated to a reduced risk of CRC due to their high content of glucosinolates, which are further converted by plant myrosinase and/or gut microbiota into more bioactive products namelly,isothiocyanates. Citrus fruits and virgin olive oil are also recognized to be rich sources of phenolic compounds where polymethoxylated flavones and hydroxytyrosol are particular compounds of interest due to their anticancer activity  reported in vivo and in vitro in several types of tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective action of these food bioactives compounds and their effect on cancer stem cell subpopulation are still unclear. 

In this Seminar, three case studies focused on the identification of key bioactive compounds, derived from different food matrices, and their evaluation in 3D cell models of colorectal cancer, will be presented:

Case study 1: Brassicaceae extracts enriched in Isothiocyanates target colorectal cancer cell proliferation, stemness and metastatic potential;

Case study 2: Polymethoxylated Flavones from orange peels improve the antiproliferative effect of a chemotherapeutic drug;

Case study 3: Olive oil Phenolics and colonic metabolitesmodulate cancer stemness.

The knowledge generated from these studies provides important insights regarding the molecular mechanisms by which food bioactive compounds could prevent CRC. This will hopefully stregthen the design of nutritional intervention studies for cancer treatment.

Acknowledgements: This research is funded by i) iNOVA4Health—UID/Multi/04462/2013, a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement, ii) iBETXplore; iii) FITEC (CIT/2018/15), Programa Interface, and iv) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through FCT-EEC grant - ref CEECIND/04801/2017.