Molecular mechanisms for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer by natural dietary compounds

Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality in both men and women worldwide. This review focuses on preventing the initiation and promotion of neoplastic growth in colorectal cancer, particularly with natural dietary compounds. Chemoprevention is defined as the use of natural dietary compounds and/or synthetic substances that can delay, prevent, or even reverse the development of adenomas, as well as the progression from adenoma to carcinoma. The molecular mechanisms of their chemopreventive action are associated with the modulation of signaling cascades, gene expressions involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis and the suppression of chronic inflammation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Here, we summarize the currently known targets and signaling pathways whereby natural dietary compounds interfere with the development of colorectal cancer, and thus providing evidence for these substances in colonic cancer chemopreventive action.