Flavonoid-modulated JAK-STAT signaling mitigates malignant transformation and drug resistance in breast tumors: A clinically relevant 3PM-guided innovation.
Review
Overview
abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) treatment efficacy is often compromised by tumor cell plasticity and multidrug resistance of multi-factorial origin. Among emerging therapeutic agents, flavonoids - a structurally diverse group of naturally occurring polyphenols - have demonstrated a significant potential to modulate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway, a key driver of oncogenic transformation, immune evasion, and therapeutic failure in BC. Notably, natural compounds, including but not restricted to apigenin, quercetin, naringenin, morin, luteolin, butein, xanthohumol, silibinin, baicalein, nobiletin, rosmanol, orientin, eriocitrin, breviscapine, 8-hydroxydaidzein, icariside I, cardamonin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, fisetin, brutieridin, melitidin, isoliquiritigenin, and sophoraflavanone G, have been recognized as potent JAK-STAT modulators in BC models. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF THE STUDY: Through targeted interference with this pathway, flavonoids exert pleiotropic antitumor effects - enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents, suppressing cellular proliferation and invasion, and reducing tumor aggressiveness. Beyond JAK-STAT signaling, flavonoids also influence several additional therapy resistance-related mechanisms, including regulation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, promotion of apoptosis, suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial autophagy and mitophagy modulation, as well as remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This article provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms by which flavonoids overcome therapeutic resistance in BC, focusing on JAK-STAT signaling modulation. The paper follows principles of Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine (3PM), promoting the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive medicine. Contextually, it underscores the importance of multidisciplinary research to elucidate flavonoid-specific mechanisms, identify predictive biomarker panels, and develop advanced delivery systems, integrates patient phenotyping, multi-level diagnostics, and AI-driven data interpretation to enable cost-effective primary and secondary prevention, and therapeutic algorithms tailored to personalised patient profiles improving therefore individual outcomes.
