Chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of phytochemicals targeting cancer stem cells

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a subpopulation of transformed cells that possess intrinsic ability to undergo self-renewal and differentiation, which confers resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapy and cancer recurrence. The development of more effective cancer therapies hence requires identification of target subpopulations with distinct CSC phenotypes. Therefore, targeting CSCs is now considered as a rational and fundamental approach in the management of cancer. Components of signaling network involved in maintaining stemness of some CSCs and their self-renewal capability have been recently discovered. Some edible phytochemicals modulate signal transduction involved in self-renewal and survival of CSCs, thereby improving the efficacy of the current anti-cancer strategies. This article deals with chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic potential of selected phytochemicals, such as genistein, sulforaphane, curcumin, and epigallocatechin gallate in the context of their modulation of signal transduction networking among components of CSCs. © 2015, Springer International Publishing AG.