Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the incidence is on rise in both developing and developed countries. Drastic increase in the number of cancer cases reported each year can be due to early detection and accessibility to medical care especially in developed countries. But at the same time it can very well be attributed to the change in the life style and the exposure to many more environmental carcinogens than previously happened. The risk assessment studies also have shown a link between cancer and lifestyle.

Cancer is indeed a genetic disease where accumulations of mutations later initiate carcinogenesis. There is tremendous time, at least in case of some common cancers like colon, pancreas, and so forth from initiation to progression. We have the opportunity to inhibit the disease during this state where the patient’s health is not compromised by the disease. There is greater need for more effective and less toxic therapeutic and preventive strategies. Natural products have been used for the treatment of various diseases and are becoming an important research area for novel and bioactive molecules for drug discovery. Indeed, many chemotherapeutic drugs including paclitaxel and vinca alkaloids are developed from plant materials. Phytochemicals and dietary compounds have been used for the treatment of cancer throughout history due to their safety, low toxicity, and general availability. Scientifically it is proven that dietary phytochemicals can inhibit or slow down the progression of cancer in many animal models. These products have been extensively studied and have exhibited anticarcinogenic activities by interfering with the initiation, development, and progression of cancer through the modulation of various mechanisms including cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Plants are provided with immense source of pharmacologically active components mainly secondary metabolites which are produced to combat the natural stress. Development of naturally derived anticancer drugs, therefore, is crucial, and isolation of novel compounds has become an important part of cancer research.

This special issue will accept original research articles and reviews that provide solid evidence to support the application of phytochemicals or dietary agents in prevention and treatment of cancer.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Use of phytochemicals or dietary agents for mechanism based prevention of:
  • Environmental carcinogenesis
  • Inflammation
  • Tumor angiogenesis
  • Metastasis
  • Immune system
  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagy
  • Cancer cell metabolism
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Chemo/radio therapy
  • Radio sensitization
  • Adjuvant therapy