New bioactive compounds of vegetable sources in cancer therapy

Many of the current anticancer drugs have their origin from natural sources. Phytochemicals have the ability to suppress cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis, inhibit invasion by targeting multiple signal transduction networks. Research directed toward elucidating underlying molecular mechanisms of chemoprevention led to the identification of several potential cellular targets. These include transcriptional factors and their upstream protein kinases, such as the family of MAPK, protein kinase B/Akt, GSK, etc. The current research in our laboratory concerns evaluation of chemopreventive effects of some anti-cancer phytochemicals and elucidation of their underlying molecular mechanisms using genomic and proteomic techniques. Protein targets of phytochemicals are identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) analysis. The most effective chemopreventive agents including resveratrol, curcumin and carnosol have potential to be used as adjuncts to current cancer therapies in ovarian and breast cancer.