The role of diet and nutraceuticals in the amelioration of multidrug resistance amongst cancer patients

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, with the reported numbers rising every year. Although the medical fraternity has made considerable progress in early detection and treatment interventions, the numbers are expected to increase drastically by 2040. The most prevalent cause of mortality in people with diverse cancer types is likely multidrug resistance (MDR). As per recent reports, there have been increased incidences of cancer being reported globally, with projections of low-Human Development Index (HDI) countries being affected more in the near future. The existing literature has cited the possible use of individual nutrients for the treatment of cancer along with conventional chemotherapeutic interventions. Nutraceuticals have also been shown to target signalling pathways such as activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitigate progression of MDR. Evidence from various studies has corroborated that nutraceuticals have immense potential to be used as chemosensitizers that can facilitate treatment efficacy. In this review article, we have enlisted the various mechanisms that lead to the development of resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells and subsequently focus on the impact of the dietary intervention/supplementation with functional foods on those mechanisms. Through this review, we try to address the need for a more detailed study to ameliorate MDR amongst cancer patients and how nutritional supplements and dietary changes can play a complementary role in defining the possible treatment pathway. This structured approach highlights the importance of food at a molecular level and emphasizes the need for more focused and detailed evaluation in the future.