Natural Stilbenes: Their Role in Colorectal Cancer Prevention, DNA Methylation, and Therapy

Abstract

The resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) to conventional therapeutic modalities, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, along with the associated side effects, significantly limits effective anticancer strategies. Numerous epigenetic investigations have unveiled that naturally occurring stilbenes can modify or reverse abnormal epigenetic alterations, particularly aberrant DNA methylation status, offering potential avenues for preventing or treating CRC. By modulating the activity of the DNA methylation machinery components, phytochemicals may influence the various stages of CRC carcinogenesis through multiple molecular mechanisms. Several epigenetic studies, especially preclinical research, have highlighted the effective DNA methylation modulatory effects of stilbenes with minimal adverse effects on organisms, particularly in combination therapies for CRC. However, the available preclinical and clinical data regarding the effects of commonly encountered stilbenes against CRC are currently limited. Therefore, additional epigenetic research is warranted to explore the preventive potential of these phytochemicals in CRC development and to validate their therapeutic application in the prevention and treatment of CRC. This review aims to provide an overview of selected bioactive stilbenes as potential chemopreventive agents for CRC with a focus on their modulatory mechanisms of action, especially in targeting alterations in DNA methylation machinery in CRC.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Contributions

VF conceived the idea for the article and wrote the manuscript text. HD provided the manuscript correction and suggestions. PB completed the text in the tables. LK edited and supplemented the references. MG and IS provided suggestions and recommendations for the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (Grant numbers: SK-PL-21-0051 and APVV-22-0348).