Advances in Molecular Signaling Mechanisms of β‑Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Antitumor Effects

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 63; no. 13; pp. 3311 - 3322
• Main Authors: Qin, Chong-Zhen, Zhang, Xue, Wu, Lan-Xiang, Wen, Chun-Jie, Hu, Lei, Lv, Qiao-Li, Shen, Dong-Ya, Zhou, Hong-Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 08.04.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress - drug effects; Humans; Isothiocyanates - pharmacology; Male; Mitochondria - drug effects; NF-kappa B; Signal Transduction - drug effects; β-phenethyl isothiocyanate; apoptosis; angiogenesis; survival pathways; cycle arrest
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf504627e

β-Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is an important phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables and is being evaluated for chemotherapeutic activity in early phase clinical trials. Moreover, studies in cell culture and in animals found that the anticarcinogenic activities of PEITC involved all the major stages of tumor growth: initiation, promotion, and progression. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for the chemopreventive activities of this compound. Here, we focus on the major molecular signaling pathways for the anticancer activities of PEITC. These include (1) activation of apoptosis pathways; (2) induction of cell cycle arrest; and (3) inhibition of the survival pathways. Furthermore, we also discussed the regulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes, including cytochrome P450s, metabolizing enzymes, and multidrug resistance.