Dietary sulforaphane in cancer chemoprevention: epigenetic regulation and PRMT5-MEP50 complex inhibition-a systematic review
Abstract
Background: Cancer chemoprevention using dietary bioactive compounds has emerged as a promising, cost-effective strategy to reduce global cancer incidence and mortality. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate abundant in cruciferous vegetables, has attracted considerable attention for its pleiotropic anticancer effects.
Methods: This systematic review synthesizes evidence through February 2026, with a particular focus on SFN's roles in epigenetic remodeling and modulating the PRMT5-MEP50 complex. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a PROSPERO-registered protocol (Registration ID: CRD420261435174), we identified 118 eligible studies (17 clinical trials, 31 observational studies, and 70 preclinical mechanistic investigations). Study quality was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2.0, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and SYRCLE's risk-of-bias tool.
Results: Recent clinical evidence includes a randomized Phase II trial in high-risk former smokers, in which 12-month supplementation with SFN (95 μmol/day) reduced the bronchial Ki-67 proliferation index by 20%. Meanwhile, the placebo group showed a 65% increase. Across clinical studies, SFN and SFN-rich preparations were well tolerated and associated with favorable changes in proliferation markers, histone acetylation, and tumor suppressor gene expression. Mechanistically, SFN modulates epigenetic networks by inhibiting DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases, activating TET-mediated DNA demethylation, and regulating microRNAs and long…
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