In vitro Biological Effects of Sulforaphane (SFN), Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and Curcumin on Breast Cancer Cells: A Systematic Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT

Much of the recent research in neoplasia has been focusing on the epigenetics of cancer cells, particularly as regards the search for potential molecular biomarkers that could be used for early diagnosis, effective treatment, and prognosis of several types of cancer. Carcinogenesis often starts with mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and it leads to anomalies in cellular processes as vital as cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Because malignant changes arise as a result of genetic as well as epigenetic mechanisms, one possible means of intervention involves reprogramming gene expression, so as to—at least in part—revert the molecular alterations. DNA methylation and demethylation, acetylation and deacetylation of histones, and microRNAs are a few examples of the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for tumor development and progression. Many biologically active compounds present in food—including sulforaphane, curcumin, and epigallocatechin—have been found to modulate those processes. We here systematically review information on the effects of such bioactive dietary compounds on human breast cancer cell lines, and explore the mechanisms underlying those effects with a view to their potential therapeutic application.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Deborah Macilletti for language revision and Valeria Parisi, University of Milan, for assistance with figures. The authors are grateful to Prof. Paolo Puccetti, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, for reading the manuscript and offering constructive comments.