Polyphenols Targeting and Influencing Cellular Signaling During Progression and Treatment of Cancer

Long-term dietary intake of natural polyphenols shows chemoprotective and anticancer activity through scavenging and removing free radicals. Polyphenols have been reported to influence and alter the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer. The broad range of these polyphenol compounds’ biological and pharmacological activities is well supported by numerous studies in metabolism regulation, microbiome interaction, and interference with primary cell signaling responsible for cancer development. A number of polyphenols from various dietary sources demonstrate the regulation of cancer-causing transcription factors, and polyphenols control signaling molecules and modulate cancer cell apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we focus on multiple cell signals that play a significant role in cancer progression and discuss the beneficial role of polyphenols in different cancer progression stages, including metastasis and apoptosis. In addition, we attempted to provide a more consistent and reliable relationship between how different polyphenols affect cancer signaling. To summarize, using polyphenols as nutraceuticals aids in the development of potential new drugs with a particular target pathway involved in cancer pathogenesis and medication production as a possible strategy in cancer treatment.