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Phytochemicals and colorectal cancer prevention—myth or reality?

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 8, pages 592–596 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer has been the focus of intensive research for more than two decades. Epidemiological evidence has shown a small, but significant association between fruit and vegetable intake and a reduction in colorectal cancer risk. In vitro and animal data have also demonstrated that many dietary phytochemicals have potent chemopreventive activities. However, in humans, single-agent compounds have yielded conflicting results. A key concept is that dietary phytochemicals exert beneficial effects at low concentrations when working in synergy with each other. As the gut microflora evolved in an environment rich in dietary fiber and phytochemicals, the rapid shift towards a Western diet creates an environment in which the gut is more vulnerable to carcinogens, genetic alterations and inflammation. As enforcing dietary interventions on large populations is not realistic, we believe future chemopreventive work should focus on delivering phytochemical mixtures that target the multiple molecular events involved in colorectal carcinogenesis.

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Figure 1: A conceptual map of the potential action of dietary phytochemicals on the multiple events involved in colorectal carcinogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

Funded by the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) (to L. Ricciardiello).

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Author notes

  1. L. Ricciardiello luigi.ricciardiello@unibo.it

  2. V. Foglianofogliano@unina.it

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, Bologna, 40138, Italy

    Luigi Ricciardiello & Franco Bazzoli

  2. Department of Food Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    Vincenzo Fogliano

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  1. Luigi Ricciardiello
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  2. Franco Bazzoli
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  3. Vincenzo Fogliano
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Contributions

L. Ricciardiello and V. Fogliano researched the data for the article and contributed equally to writing it. F. Bazzoli provided a substantial contribution to discussions of the content and to reviewing and/or editing the manuscript before submission.

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Competing interests

L. Ricciardiello and V. Fogliano have filed a patent application for the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties of Annurca Apple extracts and compositions purified therefrom (US patent Publication No. 2009/0076131, published 19 March 2009). L. Ricciardiello has received a research grant from SLA Pharma, UK. F. Bazzoli declares no competing interests.

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Ricciardiello, L., Bazzoli, F. & Fogliano, V. Phytochemicals and colorectal cancer prevention—myth or reality?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 8, 592–596 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2011.149

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