Resveratrol and Cancer

Resveratrol is a stilbene substance, belonging to the superfamily of phytoalexins, which are compounds synthesized by plants when stress occurs, usually an infection. It is abundant in red wine, red grapes, blueberries, peanuts and pistachios. Resveratrol induces p53-dependent apoptosis. A novel resveratrol analogue, HS-1793, has recently been demonstrated to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human prostate cancer cells. Pterostilbene, an analog of resveratrol, has been demonstrated to exert both autophagy and apoptosis in human bladder and breast cancer cell lines. It has also been found to cause accumulation of autophagic vacuoles as well as promote cell death via a mechanism involving lysosomal membrane permeabilization in human melanoma, colon, lung and breast cancer cell lines. Identification of a receptor site for resveratrol in cancer cells, supports the potential of this compound as a therapeutic agent. The receptor could also serve as a vehicle for studies of future resveratrol analogues. Resveratrol has also been documented to overcome chemo-resistance by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3 pathway. Resveratrol has shown much promise in preclinical trials and because of its good safety profile it may be an ideal chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic agent.