Flavonoids and Gastric Cancer Therapy: From Signaling Pathway to Therapeutic Significance

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024 Jul 25:18:3233-3253. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S466470. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal tumor characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Current treatments often have limitations, prompting researchers to explore novel anti-tumor substances and develop new drugs. Flavonoids, natural compounds with diverse biological activities, are gaining increasing attention in this regard. We searched from PubMed, Web of Science, SpringerLink and other databases to find the relevant literature in the last two decades. Using "gastric cancer", "stomach cancers", "flavonoid", "bioflavonoid", "2-Phenyl-Chromene" as keywords, were searched, then analyzed and summarized the mechanism of flavonoids in the treatment of GC. It was revealed that the anti-tumor mechanism of flavonoids involves inhibiting tumor growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as inducing cell death through various processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. Additionally, combining flavonoids with other chemotherapeutic agents like 5-FU and platinum compounds can potentially reduce chemoresistance. Flavonoids have also demonstrated enhanced biological activity when used in combination with other natural products. Consequently, this review proposes innovative perspectives for the development of flavonoids as new anti-GC agents.

Keywords: angiogenesis; apoptosis; flavonoid; gastric cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Flavonoids* / chemistry
  • Flavonoids* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

This paper was supported by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82192915), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82274187) (82174346), Major scientific research problems and key topics of medical technology problems of China Medical Education Association (2022KTZ016), the Science and Technology Project of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2022YFS0399), Xinglin Scholar Research Project of Chengdu University of TCM (Grant no. QJRC2022028)(Grant No. QJJJ2022010), the Program of Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2023NSFSC0039) (grant no. 2023NSFSC1761), “Hundred Talents Program” of the Hospital of the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Grant No. 22-B09), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CACM (CACM-(2023-QNRC2-A01)).