Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Combined Regimens with Conventional Chemotherapy to Overcome Drug-Resistance
Laura Ioana Gavrilas,
Daniel Cruceriu,
Andrei Mocan,
Felicia Loghin,
Doina Miere,
Ovidiu Balacescu
Affiliations
Laura Ioana Gavrilas
Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Daniel Cruceriu
Department of Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Experimental Pathology, “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta” Oncology Institute, 34-36 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Andrei Mocan
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Felicia Loghin
Department of Toxicology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Doina Miere
Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ovidiu Balacescu
Department of Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Experimental Pathology, “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta” Oncology Institute, 34-36 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Acquired drug resistance represents a major clinical problem and one of the biggest limitations of chemotherapeutic regimens in colorectal cancer. Combination regimens using standard chemotherapeutic agents, together with bioactive natural compounds derived from diet or plants, may be one of the most valuable strategies to overcome drug resistance and re-sensitize chemoresistant cells. In this review, we highlight the effect of combined regimens based on conventional chemotherapeutics in conjunction with well-tolerated plant-derived bioactive compounds, mainly curcumin, resveratrol, and EGCG, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms associated with the acquired drug resistance.
