A comprehensive review on phytochemicals in the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer: Focusing on their mechanism of action

Abstract

Background and aims: Pancreatic cancer develops in the normal tissues of the pancreas from malignant cells. The chance of recovery is not good, and the chance of survival 5 years following diagnosis is quite low. Pancreatic cancer treatment strategies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy had relatively low success rates. Therefore, the present study aims to explore new therapies for treating pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The present study searched for information about pancreatic cancer pathophysiology, available treatment options; and their comparative benefits and challenges. Aiming to identify potential alternative therapeutics, this comprehensive review analyzed information from renowned databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

Results: In recent years, there has been a rise in interest in the possibility that natural compounds could be used as treatments for cancer. Cannabinoids, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and triptolide are some of the anticancer phytochemicals now used to manage pancreatic cancer. The above compounds are utilized by inhibiting or stimulating biological pathways such as apoptosis, autophagy, cell growth inhibition or reduction, oxidative stress, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, and increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the management of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion: Right now, surgery is the only therapeutic option for patients with pancreatic cancer. However, most people who get sick have been diagnosed too late to benefit from potentially effective surgery. Alternative medications, like natural compounds and herbal medicines, are promising complementary therapies for pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we recommend large-scale standardized clinical research for the investigation of natural compounds to ensure their consistency and comparability in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Keywords: apoptosis; autophagy; curcumin; natural products; pancreatic cancer; phytochemicals.

Figure 1

Schematic presentation of the search and selection of relevant literature.

Figure 2

Source of phytochemicals.

Figure 3

ROS‐mediated autophagy of cannabinoids and gemcitabine combination. ROS, reactive oxygen species.

Figure 4

Mechanisms of apoptosis by curcumin in pancreatic cancer prevention.

Figure 5

Anticancer mechanisms of quercetin. Akt, Ak strain transforming; EMT, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TGF‐β1, transforming growth factor beta 1.

Figure 6

Mechanisms via which resveratrol inhibits the cell cycle in the context of pancreatic cancer prevention. CDK, cyclin‐dependent kinase; CDKIs, cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors; ROS, reactive oxygen species.

Figure 7

The role of apoptosis by TL in the prevention of pancreatic cancer. LTB4, leukotriene; TL, triptolide; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.