Cancer, characterized by the unregulated growth and dissemination of malignantly transformed cells, presents a significant global health challenge. The multistage process of cancer development involves intricate biochemical and genetic alterations within target cells. Cancer chemoprevention has emerged as a vital strategy to address this complex issue to mitigate cancer’s impact on healthcare systems. This approach leverages pharmacologically active agents to block, suppress, prevent, or reverse invasive cancer development. Among these agents, piperine, an active alkaloid with a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, has garnered attention for its potential in cancer prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores piperine’s multifaceted role in inhibiting the molecular events and signaling pathways associated with various stages of cancer development, shedding light on its promising prospects as a versatile tool in cancer chemoprevention. Furthermore, the review will also delve into how piperine enhances the effectiveness of conventional treatments such as UV-phototherapy and TRAIL-based therapy, potentially synergizing with existing therapeutic modalities to provide more robust cancer management strategies. Finally, a crucial perspective of the long-term safety and potential side effects of piperine-based therapies and the need for clinical trials is also discussed.
癌症以恶性转化细胞的失控性增殖与扩散为特征，构成全球重大健康挑战。其发生发展的多阶段过程涉及靶细胞内复杂的生化与遗传改变。癌症化学预防已成为应对这一复杂问题、减轻癌症对医疗系统影响的重要策略。该方法利用具有药理活性的物质来阻断、抑制、预防或逆转侵袭性癌症的发展。其中，胡椒碱作为一种具有广泛治疗特性的活性生物碱，包括抗氧化、抗炎和免疫调节作用，因其在癌症预防和治疗方面的潜力而备受关注。本综述全面探讨了胡椒碱在抑制癌症各发展阶段相关分子事件和信号通路中的多面性作用，揭示了其作为癌症化学预防多效性工具的广阔前景。此外，本文还将深入分析胡椒碱如何增强紫外线光疗和TRAIL疗法等常规治疗手段的效果，可能与现有治疗模式产生协同作用，从而提供更有效的癌症管理策略。最后，本文亦探讨了基于胡椒碱疗法的长期安全性、潜在副作用以及开展临床试验的必要性这一关键视角。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家