Isothiocyanates as drug candidates in cancer prevention and treatment

Abstract

Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Many methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. are being used for treatment. Most patients have a combination treatment with chemotherapy along with surgery or radiotherapy or both. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells by preventing them from reproducing, growing, and spreading in the body. Recently, safer alternatives to chemotherapy have been discovered and developed, as most of the drugs used in cancer treatment have side effects and a serious impact on patient comfort. As an alternative, the phytochemicals found in daily consumed plants are attractive candidates for clinical/pre-clinical evaluation because of their higher safety. In this context, certain degradation products of glucosinolates (isothiocyanates) are promising agents for cancer prevention and treatment.