ABSTRACT
Research fi ndings clearly indicate that the multifaceted, intricate process of carcinogenesis involves changes in a plethora of genes and gene products that are critical in the regulation of a copious number of cellular functions. Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in cancer development is crucial in the development of effective, nontoxic agents to prevent this deadly disease. Many natural or dietary phytochemicals are believed to have potent anticancer activity with very few adverse side effects and thus have received intensive research attention. Accumulating research evidence suggests that many of these phytochemicals may be used alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapeutic agents to prevent or treat cancer. Therefore, identifying the specifi c signal transduction pathways, protein and gene targets, and mechanisms explaining the purported anticancer activity of various phytochemicals may provide effective alternatives or additions to traditional methods of cancer prevention (i.e., chemoprevention) or cancer treatment (i.e., chemotherapy).
