Reviewing the Prospective Pharmacological Potential of Isothiocyanates in Fight against Female-Specific Cancers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Gynecological cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women globally. Despite advancements in diagnostics and treatments, these cancers remain a significant health problem. Alternative medicines, such as isothiocyanates (ITCs), have gained attention for their potential effectiveness against various types of cancers. ITCs, including sulforaphane, benzyl isothiocyanate, and phenethyl isothiocyanate have demonstrated considerable ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, induce cell death, and modulate other cellular processes in female-specific cancers. Moreover, ITCs may enhance the chemo-sensitization of chemotherapeutic drugs, improving efficacy in combination with conventional treatments or other phytochemicals. Studies suggest that ITCs may be effective either as standalone treatments or in combination with conventional chemotherapies for the prevention or treatment of female-specific cancers. Improved understanding of the molecular intricacies of ITCs could lead to better treatment options for these cancers. Seemingly, a better understanding of these molecular aspects could open new horizons for ITC-based therapeutic interventions, potentially improving the prognosis of female-specific cancer patients. ABSTRACT: Gynecological cancers are the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in females worldwide. Despite the advancement of diagnostic tools as well as the availability of various therapeutic interventions, the incidence and mortality of female-specific cancers is still a life-threatening issue, prevailing as one of the major health problems worldwide. Lately, alternative medicines have garnered immense attention as a therapeutic intervention against various types of cancers, seemingly because of their safety profiles and enhanced effectiveness. Isothiocyanates (ITCs), specifically sulforaphane, benzyl isothiocyanate, and phenethyl isothiocyanate, have shown an intriguing potential to actively contribute to cancer cell growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, epigenetic alterations, and modulation of autophagy and cancer stem cells in female-specific cancers. Additionally, it has been shown that ITCs plausibly enhance the chemo-sensitization of many chemotherapeutic drugs. To this end, evidence has shown enhanced efficacy in combinatorial regimens with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and/or other phytochemicals. Reckoning with these, herein, we discuss the advances in the knowledge regarding the aspects highlighting the molecular intricacies of ITCs in female-specific cancers. In addition, we have also argued regarding the potential of ITCs either as solitary treatment or in a combinatorial therapeutic regimen for the prevention and/or treatment of female-specific cancers. Hopefully, this review will open new horizons for consideration of ITCs in therapeutic interventions that would undoubtedly improve the prognosis of the female-specific cancer clientele. Considering all these, it is reasonable to state that a better understanding of these molecular intricacies will plausibly provide a facile opportunity for treating these female-specific cancers.