Phytochemicals as Immunomodulatory Molecules in Cancer Therapeutics

127

2023-11-27 17:40

MDPI

PTLv2

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1. Introduction

Cancer is a disease of abnormal and unchecked cell growth and proliferation, and it remains the second leading cause of substantial mortality and morbidity rates worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 609,360 people died due to various form of cancers, with around 1.9 million new cancer cases reported in 2022 [5]. As cancer involves unchecked cell growth, a prominent aspect of cancer prevention and treatment is modulating the immune response. Refurbishing the immune system to defeat and minimize the chances of cancer recurrence is essential in cancer treatment [6,7]. The immune system is the key component responsible for proper cell growth and proliferation while controlling metastasis [8]. Experiments have shown that the immune system can react to experimentally induced tumors in animal models. Thus, it can be concluded that the host cell immunological network can modulate malignant cells [9,10]. Research shows that immunotherapeutic manipulation can control the spread of tumors of almost all types [11].

Local interventions and systemic therapies, like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal therapy, and other targeted therapies, are common approaches to augment the immune system for treating cancer. Chemotherapy is a major consideration, and is one of the most widely used treatments in both early and advanced stages of cancer; however, due to its highly cytotoxic nature and other severe side effects, new approaches with minimal iniquitous effects are warranted [12]. A successful shift towards phytochemicals may diminish the side effects and be cost-effective, thus, playing an important role in the socio-economic sustainability of cancer therapeutics as well. Research endeavors are focused on understanding the drawbacks of modern chemotherapies, reevaluating and rediscovering the anticancer role of traditional medicine and phytochemical substitutes (natural products) that are safer to use and are on the rise [13]. Various clinical trials are underway to assess potent phytochemicals with anticancer and immunomodulatory effects for the comprehensive therapy of specific types of cancer [13].

Phytochemicals encompass a broad range of natural compounds obtained from flora or plant products, such as carotenoids, phenolics, alkaloids, nitrogen and sulfur-containing compounds, to name a few [14]. Since ancient times, plant sources have been an integral part of our diet owing to their nutritional and medicinal values. Enormous volumes of evidence show that phytochemicals can diminish the risk of several chronic diseases and conditions involving a large immunological component, including, but not limited to, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis [15,16,17]. Therefore, the intake of phytochemicals such as curcumin, quercetin, flavonoids, luteolin, apigenin lycopene, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, curcuminoid, silibinin, and soybean in the diet may be more useful for cancer prevention. The anticancer effect, along with reduced side effects, immunomodulatory functions, and antioxidant properties of phytochemicals, make them a more considerable preventive measure against cancer initiation and recurrence.

There are several advantages to including phytochemicals as an essential part of the diet. The foremost is the ease of administration, particularly for palatable compounds in their natural form, such as fruits, raw vegetables, nuts, or as part of cuisine, such as spices, oils, herbs, or processed forms such as vines, non-alcoholic beverages, and chocolate. Routine and mindful intake of phytochemicals can have cancer-preventive properties. Additionally, the consumption of whole bio-products has been shown to be more effective than the isolation of one or a few active compounds. For example, bitter guard juice is more effective in preventing pancreatic cancer [18], and whole fermented rice bran is more effective in preventing colon cancer [19]. This review focuses on selected phytochemicals that can be administered orally or consumed as part of the diet, containing anticancer and immunomodulatory properties to fight against a vast variety of cancer and the mechanistic aspects of immunological regulation by these phytochemicals.

2. Phytochemicals: History and Classification

Phytochemicals are biologically active natural compounds derived from plants (Greek word, phyto, meaning plants) that provide macro- and micronutrients to humans [20]. In plants, they are responsible for providing aroma, color, taste, and protecting against environmental hazards and pathogenic attack [21]. Phytochemicals may be available in the form of secondary plant metabolites, known for their nutritive and protective role in human health [22]. Phytochemicals have been in existence since the emergence of plants, and their active roles have been known since ancient times. However, knowledge of the chemistry of compounds conferring medicinal properties to phytochemicals was gained a few hundred years ago. The earliest records of herbal medicines goes back to around 2800 BC, written by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung in “The Great Native Herbal,” and it gives an account of cancer treatment through immunomodulation [23]. Ancient Indian literature also shows the use of medicinal plants in the form of Ayurveda, for tumor management via inflammation and immune response management [24]. Later, this medicinal knowledge was brought to Egypt and Europe, first by Hippocrates (460–377 BC) and then by Aristotle (384–322 BC) [25]. The journey of medicinal plants, i.e., utilizing plant product(s) as a source of medicine, began in 28 A.D. by Greek physicians, as indicated in De Materia Medica [26]. Later, salicin, isolated from the same willow tree, was used as an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drug [27]. During the 1980s, many laboratories started to identify phytochemicals as medicines. Medicinal plants from traditional sources have been increasingly used for the search of new drugs. After decades of active use as traditional medicine (herbal preparation), the isolation of the first phytochemicals, i.e., alkaloids (quinine, morphine, strychnine), was successful in the early 19th century, which started a new era for research on dietary and medicinal plants [23]. Phytochemicals are known to possess several biological properties such as anti-microbial activity, repair of cells, antioxidant properties, and the inhibition of different cancer growths [28]. Phytochemicals are mainly present in fruits, seeds, roots, stems, leaves, and flowers [29].

There are no strict classification guidelines for phytochemicals. One way to classify them is according to their functional in plant metabolism; phytochemicals are classified as primary and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are necessary for plant life and include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and their building blocks. Secondary metabolites are the remaining plant chemicals produced through the metabolism of primary metabolites by cellular activity. The most common classes of phytochemicals according to their chemical structural identity are phenolics (45%), terpenoids and steroids (27%), alkaloids (18%), and other chemicals (10%) [30]. A brief overview of these phytochemical classifications is provided below.

2.1. Phenolics

Phenolic phytochemicals are the largest group of phytochemicals present in the plant kingdom [31]. They have a hydroxyl group (-OH) with a covalently bonded aromatic hydrocarbon group, for example, C6H5OH (phenol). They form a diverse group that includes hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. These are secondary metabolites synthesized by the phenylpropanoid, shikimate, and pentose phosphatase pathways in plants. Polyphenols are present in various parts of plants and play important role in growth, pigmentation, structure, and defense [32]. Within this group, the most important dietary phenolics are flavonoids, phenolic acids, and polyphenolic amides. The structural background, dietary source, and medical plant source of the most studied flavonoids and phenolic acids are listed in .

2.2. Terpenoids

Terpenoids are a major class of secondary metabolites that contain carbon backbones made of isoprene (2-methylbuta-1,3-diene) units [38]. The generic name “terpene” means hydrocarbons found in turpentine, and the suffix “ene” means the presence of an olefinic bond (containing two isoprene units, hence ten carbon atoms) [39]. Terpenoids are produced by a wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms, and their roles in living organisms can be grouped as functional, defensive, and communicative [40]. Based on the isoprene units, terpenoids are divided into various groups such as hemiterpenoids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, and tetraterpenoids [41]. The major dietary and medicinal sources of terpenoids are stated in . Among the various groups of terpenoids, diterpenoids are mainly used for cancer therapy [42].

2.3. Alkaloids

Alkaloids are natural secondary metabolites derived from plants, fungi, and animals (~3000 distinct alkaloids have been characterized) [45]. They are low molecular weight heterocyclic nitrogenous compounds (with one or more nitrogen atoms present as part of a ring of atom called a cyclic system), which are colorless, crystalline, non-volatile and have low toxicity with higher stability [46]. They are further classified according to the amino acids from which they are derived in the biosynthetic pathway. The major classes of alkaloids are pyrrolidine, pyridine-piperidine, quinoline, isoquinoline, and pyrrolidine-pyridine, as stated in . Alkaloids are mainly used by plants for defense against microorganisms and insects by producing allelopathically active chemicals [47]. Alkaloids have a restraining effect on the topoisomerase enzyme, leading to stalled DNA replication and cell death, and have various pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer properties, apart from anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects [48]. Alkaloids derived from plants have significant efficacy in the suppression of oncogenesis.

3. Cancer Microenvironment: Immunological Milieu

The microenvironment of normal healthy cells incudes immune cells, fibroblasts, blood and lymphatic vessels, and interstitial extracellular matrix [59]. This cellular machinery plays a central role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and functions as a barrier to tumorigenesis [60]. Aberrant signaling from messengers such as chemokines, cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid mediators, indicating a polarized microenvironment and altered tissue homeostasis, may initiate/promote tumorigenesis and growth. However, the actual underlying mechanisms for oncogenesis, particularly owing to immune responses, are not well elucidated for most cancer types. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains both malignant and nonmalignant cells, where non-malignant cells bear the initial tumor-promoting role. The ‘seed and soil’ hypothesis provides significant insights into the relationship of the TME and malignant tumor, where TME is the ‘soil’ and is crucial for the tumor or ‘seed’ to germinate and further grow [61]. Tumors do not resemble malignant cells of only one type but are complex organoids where various cells are recruited and transformed [62]. TME, along with malignant cells, contains various immune cells, tumor vasculature, fibroblasts, lymphatics, pericytes, and adipocytes [63]. The TME initially primes the immune system by the infiltration of immune cells that send chemical signals masking tumor antigens, thus protecting the cancerous cells [64]. At the cancer site, stromal cells release various mediators and cytokines to participate in immune regulation.

3.1. Overview of the Immune System in Cancer

The immune system is an association of complex networks of specialized molecules, cells, tissues, and organs that provides defense from foreign pathogens, aberrant cells, and tumors. The main physiological function of the immune system is to distinguish between “self”, “non-self,” and “altered-self” structures or transformed cells [65]. Cells of the immune system are derived from hematopoietic stem cells by hematopoiesis, belonging to either the lymphoid lineage (B and T cells, natural killer [NK] cells, and innate lymphoid cells) or the myeloid lineage (granulocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes-macrophages, and dendritic cells [DCs]) [65]. Molecules that can be recognized by the immune system are considered antigens, and are generally presented on the surface of target cells [66]. Based on antigen specificity, effector responses, and kinetics of activation, the immune system is divided into two distinct components: innate and adaptive immunity [67]. The immune system acquires the ability to recognize, detect, and eliminate different tumors, even though the human body is not completely resistant to cancer [68]. Moreover, tumor cells are regulated by a dynamic process called immunoediting [69]. During this process, innate and adaptive immune cells are triggered by inflammation in the tumor, recruiting immune cells to the arising tumor and synthesizing cytokines and chemokines. The functions of innate and adaptive immune responses in cancer are important for understanding the effect of phytochemicals on cancer and are detailed below.

4. Role of Phytochemicals in Modulating Immune Functions in Cancer

Phytochemicals have remarkable anti-cancer properties that have been demonstrated at both in vitro and in vivo levels. Phytochemicals confer protection from malignancy through scavenging free radicals, reducing invasion and angiogenesis, and suppressing proliferation of tumor cells [137]. In addition, they show their activity on different molecular targets, membrane receptors, kinases, tumor activator proteins, transcriptional factors, cyclins, caspases, microRNAs, and signal transduction pathways [91].

4.1. Regulation of the Innate Immune Response in Cancer by Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals have a great ability to modulate the immune response by regulating immune cells. Several phytochemicals, alone or in combination, are crucial in the stimulation, activation, and maintenance of T cell and NK cell cytotoxicity. Silibinin has been shown to increase the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and neutrophils but decrease macrophage and MDSCs cell numbers in 4T1 luciferase-transfected mammary cancer in female BALB/c and CB17-Prkdc Scid/J mice [138]. Quercetin-triggered NK cell-mediated tumor cell apoptosis through the NKG2D-activating receptor in quercetin-treated K562, SNU1, and SCN-C4 cells, also affected the Th1/Th2 ratio in tumors [139]. Apigenin increases CD4+, CD8+ T cell numbers and reduces suppressive Treg cell numbers in mice [140].

Fraker et al. showed that the oral administration of retinol in wild-type BALB/c and congenitally athymic BALB/c mice can enhance the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the spleen within an hour of treatment [141]. The enhanced activity is associated with increased expression of the retinoic acid early-inducible gene, and its products act as ligands for the NK cell surface receptor NKG2D [142]. Phytochemicals are not only involved in cytotoxic activity but also play a role in NK cell maturation and increase the expression of activating receptors of NKp46, NKp30, NKp44, NKG2D CD69, and CD25 and IFN-γ and downregulate the inhibitory receptor CD158, in both in vitro and in vivo mouse studies [143,144]. Isoflavone (genistein), even at low concentrations (0.5–1.0 μmol/L), enhances NK cell degranulation and its activity in vitro [145,146].

Curcumin shows immunomodulatory effect upon nitric oxide (NO) production by NK cells as well as macrophages causing cytotoxicity against tumor cells like in AK-5, YAC-1, and breast tumor exosomes [147,148]. Fiala et al. showed that curcumin, in combination with omega-3 fatty acid, enhances NK cell-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting NFκB signaling in pancreatic cancer both in vivo and in vitro [149]. In-depth immunological studies revealed that generally tumor cells decrease the CD4+/CD8+ ratio and inhibit T-cell functions to escape from immune surveillance [8]. Curcumin was also shown to inhibit immunosuppressive Treg cell functions, downregulate IL-10 and TGFβ secretion, and modulate the macrophage and DC cell functions in both in vitro and in vivo models [150].

Phenolic compounds, like resveratrol, showed increased toxic effects against various cancer cell lines such as leukemia (K562), human promyeloblastic leukemia (KG-1a), HepG2, and A549 [151]. The mechanism of toxicity was correlated with an increase in phosphorylation of JNK, ERK-1/2, and RK1/2 MAP kinase activity, perforin, NKG2D, and IFN-γ upregulation, TRAIL pathway activation, CD107a expression, CD8+- and CD4+-T-cells stimulation, and inhibition of constitutively active signal transducers and activators of STAT3 signaling [152,153,154]. The TRAIL pathway has been shown to mediate apoptotic cell death in various cancers, such as human prostate carcinoma, breast, colon, skin, and neuroblastoma both in vitro and in vivo studies, as shown in [155,156,157,158,159].

Phytochemicals also regulate macrophages to achieve anti-tumor activity, not only by inhibiting HIF-1α and HIF-2α but also by maintaining a proper balance in M1 and M2 polarization [177]. The polyphenolic compound resveratrol, in humans (PBMCs), has been shown to trigger pro-inflammatory signaling in macrophages [178]. In M1 cells, it stops the increase of pro-inflammatory molecules by downregulation of CD16 and upregulation of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, whereas in M2 cells, it stops the increase of proangiogenic molecules by upregulation of CD14, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and downregulation of endocytosis, as shown in Figure 1 [178]. Fenretinide, a derivative of retinoic acid, has been shown to inhibit M2 macrophage polarization in colon cancer in APC ^min/+ transgenic mice, with an adverse impact on cancer attenuation [179]. IL-4, IL-13, CD206, Fizz1, and PPARγ protein levels are blocked by fenretinide, which finally inhibits M2 polarization without any effect on M1 polarization. Cannabinoids can modulate macrophage activity by reducing the expression of TNFα and IL-1β, suggesting its anticancer potential in xenograft tumors for colorectal cancer cells (HTC116, SW480, SW620, and HT29) [162,180]. Echinacea, on the other hand, enhances cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1, IFN-β), activates macrophages by increasing the expression of CD80, CD86, MHCII molecules, and phagocytosis in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages [165,181].

Figure 1. Recruitment of different immune cells to the tumor site and their anti-tumor and pro-tumor properties. Red lines indicate blood vessels.

Other crucial innate cells interacting with the tumor cell are DCs. Curcumin treatment in male C57BL/6 mice strongly downregulates CD80, CD86, and MHC class II expression, but not MHC class I expression on DCs. The DCs also exhibit impaired IL-12 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα). Apigenin treatment leads to low expression of PD-L1 in DCs, resulting in enhanced T cell immunity in the melanoma xenograft mouse model and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells [182].

4.2. Regulation of Adaptive Immunity in Cancer by Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals have a strong effect on B cell and T cell populations and play integral regulatory roles in maintaining and enhancing the adaptive immune response. In vivo studies with mice inoculated with Ehrlich’s ascites mammary carcinoma (EAC) have shown that phytochemicals such as curcumin, even at low doses, increase T cell population, decrease tumor growth, increase cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells with an increase in IFN-γ release, and increase in CD4+ T cell and B cell populations [183,184]. Phytochemicals have also been shown to inhibit tumor cell proliferation by activating the apoptosis pathway and caspase-3 activity via inactivation of PI3 kinase targets such as GSK3, AKT, FOXO, and PARP degradation [185], as shown in Figure 2. Shao et al. showed that bisdemethoxycurcumin can suppress bladder cancer by enhancing CD8+ T cell infiltration in the TME and increasing the level of IFN-γ by reducing the MDSC population in salivary gland tumor cells in BALB-neuT mice [186,187]. They have also shown that MDSCs, on one hand, reduce IL-6 while on the other hand, induce IL-12, enhancing the CD4+ T and CD8+ T response. Additionally, curcumin inhibits the Treg suppressive activity by inhibiting IL-2 secretion and decreasing Foxp3 expression [188].

Figure 2. Overview of immune-modulation of the cancer microenvironment by phytochemicals. The green arrows represent upregulation and red arrows represent downregulation.

Rocaglamides act as immunosuppressive phytochemicals by inhibiting the production of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ in T cells circulating in peripheral blood [189]. Garlic extract, which contains various phytochemicals such as allicin, alliin, diallyl disulfate, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, and s-allyl cystine, was shown to increase the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, enhance the production of IFN-γ in splenocyte of fibroblast tumors, and increase IFN- γ, IL-2, IL-4 levels in breast cancer in Wistar rats [161]. This overall increase in Th1 and Th2 response promoted lymphocyte proliferation [161]. Kis et al. have shown that cannabinoids have a protective role in cancers of various regions, including breast, lung, colon, prostate, skin, and brain, by enhancing the effect of T cells and decreasing the production of T-helper 2 cytokines such as IL-10 in female athymic nude mice xenograft tumors with MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, DU-145, CaCo-2, and AGS, as shown in [162]. Tinospora cordifolia greatly affects the proliferation of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes subsets (CD4+ and CD8+) and the secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in colon, cervical, and oral squamous carcinomas [170,171]. Apigenin, in the case of melanoma (melanoma xenograft model with A375, A2058, and RPMI-7951), strongly suppresses the IFN-γ-induced activation of STAT1, leading to decreased PD-L1 expression; thus, sensitizing them to T cell-mediated killings [172]. Studies have shown that apigenin potentially stabilized Ikaros expression by targeting CK2 [173]. Overall, various phytochemicals can differentially modulate various functions of innate and adaptive immune cells to overcome tumor growth, as shown in .

4.3. Phytochemicals in Cancer: Clinical Trials and Other Studies with Human Patients

Effective clinical trials of different phytochemicals, such as various alkaloids and terpenes, flavopiridol, curcumin, silibinin, and resveratrol for the treatment of different disease conditions, are ongoing [26,190,191,192,193,194]. Various phytochemicals, not only in pre-clinical studies but also in several phases of clinical trials, have shown major positive outcomes. For example, in phase I clinical trials, curcumin alone (8 g/day) or in combination with quercetin (400/20 mg) showed significant measurable histological improvement in patients with various cancer such as pancreatic cancer [195], oral leukoplakia [196], cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [195], multiple myeloma, and advanced colorectal cancer [196]. In a phase II clinical study, Carroll and colleagues showed that curcumin (4 gm/day) resulted in a 40% reduction in aberrant crypt foci within 30 days of treatment [197].

Resveratrol clinical trials, with a dose of 2.5 gm/day for the period of 29 days, reduced the concentration of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF-binding protein 3 in the plasma, inhibited tumor formation, and metastasis [198,199]. Resveratrol with dose of 1 gm/day for four weeks decreased cytochrome P450 and CYP3A4 levels and increased CYP1A2 in the plasma of healthy individuals, which could aid in cancer prevention. These molecules play an important role in detoxification and carcinogen inactivation [200]. Resveratrol shows its therapeutic activity by promoting NK cells’ effector function via recognizing transformed cells prior to proliferation more rapidly than T cells. NKG2D, an antigen receptor expressed on NK cells, T cells, and CD8⁺ cells, recognize specific ligands expressed on transformed cells for their tumor suppressive effect [201,202].

In addition to curcumin and resveratrol, catechins such as EGCG and epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), present in green tea in high concentrations, prevent DNA damage and mutagenesis in healthy cells [203,204]. Liver cancer patients or chain-smokers have elevated levels of 8-OHdG in their urine. Green tea supplement of 500–1000 mg/day for a period of three months significantly decreases 8-OHdG levels [204,205,206]. Zheng et al. showed that green tea had positive outcome with prostate cancer patients as well; however, green tea did not have a significant outcome in patients with stomach cancer [207,208]. Clinical trials studying elderly men supplemented with β-carotene increased CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cell percentages and enhances NK cell numbers, and EGCG with DNA vaccine enhances CD8+ cell-mediated immune responses in the TME [209]. In contrast, β-carotene (15 mg/day) and retinol (25,000 IU/day) enhance lung cancer and its mortality [210]. Another study showed that the intake of β-carotene (15 mg/day), α-tocopherol (30 mg/day), and selenium (50 µg/day), for a period of five years, lowered the risk of gastric cancer, although no effects were observed with esophageal cancer [210,211]. These conflicting outcomes of the same phytochemicals may be due to certain biomarkers expressed in different cancers during their progression. It was demonstrated that treatment with phytochemicals regresses tumor volume and enhances the synergistic effect of various chemotherapeutic drugs like 5FU, doxorubicin.

Ishikawa et al. [212] showed that in patients with colorectal, liver, or pancreatic cancer, daily consumption of 4 aged garlic capsules/day (Allium sativum 500 mg) for 12 weeks led to increased NK cell numbers and activities and was associated with more favorable outcomes. Further, daily consumption of 6 capsules (2.5 mL garlic) for 1 year led to decreased colon adenoma size and numbers [213]. A list of all the clinical trials and other studies with human subjects on the efficacy of phytochemicals in treating cancer is provided in .

5. Challenges and Future Prospectives

Although phytochemicals have been extensively studied in various cancer cell lines in vitro and in pre-clinical animal models, as well as clinical trials with some promising natural therapeutics ongoing, their clinical efficacy as an anti-cancer target is still under debate. The major problem associated with phytochemical drugs is their solubility and adsorption, beginning in the oral cavity and continuing up to the gut milieu. Additionally, phytochemicals can have a wide range of pharmacokinetics that hinge on a multitude of factors, such as the type of compound and mode of preparation. Therefore, the synthesis of easily soluble phytochemical analogs, with well-characterized kinetics, mainly in aqueous or other stabilizing conditions, that can be absorbed effectively in the gut is warranted. Furthermore, the half-life of phytochemicals is very short in human blood, and the mechanisms of their metabolism remain unclear. Therefore, improving the bioavailability and stability of phytochemicals in vivo represents another challenge to researchers. In this consequence, more efficient research is required to increase the longevity of their half-life and thereby efficacy, and a better and more in-depth understanding of their mechanism of metabolism and subsequent activity is needed.

Unfortunately, no phytochemical has been established or approved to combat cancer. Challenges associated with phytochemicals, such as inadequate information about specific targets, pre-clinical study data, optimal dose, solubility, and longevity or bioavailability, need to be overcome before phytochemical therapeutics can be approved. There is also a threat of overdosing or toxicity due to the consumption of phytochemicals in very high doses, such as overuse of wine may lead to liver damage, alcohol toxicity, socio-economic problems, and other challenges associated with intoxication. Thus, it is important to consume phytochemicals in limited doses and responsibly, even though most phytochemicals are not known to be harmful in small doses, per the direction of the physician. Additionally, further studies with combination/cocktail phytochemical therapeutics, and cutting-edge basic research with more robust and effective drug development are required. Further understanding of various dietary phytochemicals is necessary regarding various cancers via immune modulation of various innate and adaptive cells within TME, which could be safe, non-toxic, and economical anti-cancer therapeutics.

6. Conclusions

Phytochemicals have been reported to play vital immunomodulatory roles in cancer since ancient times. In recent years, extensive research on phytochemicals has shown them to be attractive anti-cancer therapeutics through modulation of the TME. More research is needed for the development of phytochemicals-mediated cancer treatment, through better understanding of cell cycle progression, inhibition of signaling cascades at various stage of cancer progression like initiation, progression, and development.

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Reproduced from:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/16/12/1652

Phytochemicals are natural plant-derived products that provide significant nutrition, essential biomolecules, and flavor as part of our diet. They have long been known to confer protection against several diseases via their anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory, anti-microbial, and several other properties. Deciphering the role of phytochemicals in the prevention, inhibition, and treatment of cancer—unrestrained cell proliferation due to the loss of tight regulation on cell growth and replication—has been the focus of recent research. Particularly, the immunomodulatory role of phytochemicals, which is pivotal in unchecked cell proliferation and metastasis, has recently been studied extensively. The immune system is a critical component of the tumor microenvironment, and it plays essential roles in both preventing and promoting oncogenesis. Immunomodulation includes stimulation, amplification, or inactivation of some stage(s) of the immune response. Phytochemicals and their products have demonstrated immune regulation, such as macrophage migration, nitric oxide synthase inhibition, lymphocyte, T-cell, and cytokine stimulation, natural killer cell augmentation, and NFκB, TNF, and apoptosis regulation. There is a dearth of extensive accounts of the immunomodulatory effects of phytochemicals in cancer; thus, we have compiled these effects with mechanistic aspects of dietary phytochemicals in cancer, highlighting promising candidates and ongoing clinical trials on immunotherapeutic strategies to mitigate oncogenesis.

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