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Sulforaphane in Alternative Cancer Chemotherapy: From Carcinogenesis Suppression to Drug Resistance Reversal Publisher



Doodmani SM1 ; Rahimzadeh P2 ; Farahani N3 ; Mirilavasani S4 ; Alimohammadi M5 ; Nabavi N6 ; Alaei E7 ; Taheriazam A3, 8 ; Abedi M9 ; Daneshi S11 ; Hashemi M3, 12
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Surgical Research Society (SRS), Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Campus Venlo, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, Netherlands
  5. 5. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Victoria, V8V 1P7, BC, Canada
  7. 7. School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Department of Pathology, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  10. 10. Board Certified Otorhinolaryngologist, Bahrami Children Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  11. 11. Department of Public Health, School of Health, Jiroft University Of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
  12. 12. Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Source: Results in Chemistry Published:2025


Abstract

The management and treatment of cancer have posed significant challenges in recent years. Conventional chemotherapy, despite its widespread use, has encountered obstacles such as the emergence of drug resistance. As a result, natural products have gained considerable attention as alternative therapies for cancer treatment. These compounds can also be combined with chemotherapy drugs to enhance tumor suppression. Sulforaphane (SFN), a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, has demonstrated remarkable health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. This review focuses on SFN's role in cancer treatment, emphasizing its biological mechanisms and ability to regulate drug resistance. Key mechanisms discussed include the regulation of cell death pathways, such as apoptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy, which are critical in cancer therapy. Additionally, SFN's ability to suppress metastasis and impair the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism is highlighted. By inhibiting glycolysis, SFN can reduce the energy supply required for cancer cell proliferation. When combined with chemotherapy drugs, SFN enhances tumor suppression and mitigates drug resistance in human cancers. This is achieved primarily by promoting apoptosis, reducing proliferation, and inhibiting metastasis. In conclusion, SFN shows significant promise in cancer therapy by targeting multiple molecular pathways, improving the efficacy of chemotherapy, and overcoming drug resistance, particularly when incorporated into advanced nanoparticle delivery systems. © 2025 The Author(s)
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