Published online Oct 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i37.10636
Peer-review started: May 20, 2015
First decision: June 23, 2015
Revised: July 9, 2015
Accepted: August 31, 2015
Article in press: August 31, 2015
Published online: October 7, 2015
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Late diagnosis and classical therapeutic approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy make this disease a still threatening tumor. Genetic asset, environmental stress, dietary habit and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are the major causes concurring to GC initiation. A common mechanism is induction of radicals resulting in gastric mucosal injury. A regular food intake of antioxidant and radical scavenging agents has been proposed to exert protection against tumorigenesis. Resveratrol belongs to the polyphenol flavonoids class of antioxidants produced by a restricted number of plants. Resveratrol exerts bactericidal activity against H. pylori and is a powerful antioxidant, thus acting as a tumor preventive agent. Resveratrol intracellular signaling results in growth arrest and apoptosis, so that it can be directed against tumor progression. Resveratrol therapeutic potential against GC initiation and progression are reviewed here.
Core tip: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Despite the improvement of conventional therapies for advanced GC, the length or quality of life of patients with advanced GC is still poor. Resveratrol exerts bactericidal activity against Helicobacter pylori, acting as a GC preventive agent. Resveratrol therapeutic potential against GC initiation and progression is thus required to be surveyed and this is done within this minireview.