# Modulation of Wnt/Beta-Catenin Pathway by Major Dietary Phytochemicals Against Breast Cancer Development

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how certain plant-based compounds may help prevent breast cancer by regulating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.

## Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of dietary phytochemicals and their potential to modulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in breast cancer prevention.

## Key findings

- Dysregulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is linked to breast cancer development.
- Dietary phytochemicals like curcumin and resveratrol can modulate this pathway.
- These compounds may serve as preventive or therapeutic agents for breast cancer.

## Abstract

In the normal development of mammary gland development, Wnt signaling plays a vital role in maintaining normal function and homeostasis. However, dysregulation of the pathway, including increased Wnt activity and high levels of beta-catenin, are known to be associated with the development of different cancers including breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer. Owing to fewer treatment options available for treating advanced breast cancers, studies have explored the utility of naturally occurring phytochemicals as alternate preventive/treatment approaches. This review summarizes major dietary phytochemicals such as curcumin, capsaicin, tea polyphenols, garlic compounds, naringin, benzyl isothiocyanate, resveratrol, berberine, and quercetin that are widely consumed worldwide and their ability to modulate WNT/Beta-Catenin pathway to lower the burden of breast cancer development.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States. Despite a decrease in mortality associated with breast cancer, there has been a steady increase in its incidence. Development of the mammary gland is normally regulated by such pathways including Wnt, Hedgehog, estrogen and Notch signaling. However, the deregulation of these pathways gives rise to tumor development, and upregulated Wnt activity along with high levels of beta-catenin is correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer. In addition, beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling is enriched in triple-negative breast cancers and is associated with reduced overall survival in breast cancer patients. Various studies have investigated the ability of naturally occurring plant-based agents to reduce incidence and morbidity of breast cancer by regulating critical cell survival pathways to reverse or inhibit the occurrence of clinical disease. The present review focuses on summarizing the role of commonly consumed dietary phytochemicals and their role in regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway against the development of breast cancer.