{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T21:39:24Z","timestamp":1791841164860,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,23]],"date-time":"2025-02-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740268800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Ferulic acid (FA) is a polyphenol that is found in plants and fruits. It has a wide range of anticancer properties, including participating in cell apoptosis, inhibiting invasion and angiogenesis, and acting synergistically with standard cytostatic agents in malignant tumors. A range of molecular mechanisms are involved in anticancer activity and include the following ones: activation of cell-cycle-related proteins and enzymes such as p53, p21, Bax, and pro-caspases 3 and 9, reduction of cyclin D1 and E, proapoptotic Bcl-2, MMP-9, and NF-kV, which decrease VEGF, leading to cell cycle arrest at G0\/G1 phase and death of cancer cells. Other mechanisms inhibit several pathways: PI3K\/AKT\/mTOR, Notch, and Wnt, which are associated with downregulation of proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. FA can induce activation of ROS, leading to DNA damage in cancer cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the significant antitumor activity of FA in breast cancer, particularly when used in combination with cytostatic agents. In vitro studies on cervical cancer cell lines have reported similar anticancer activity of FA. This includes inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by downregulating antiapoptotic proteins. A case-control study conducted in Italy found that men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer had notably lower levels of FA compared to controls. Molecular in vitro studies have suggested that FA may have various effects on the signaling pathways linked to a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, and it may act in synergy with \u03b4-tocotrienol, which is a derivative of vitamin E. In vivo and in vitro studies on colorectal cancer have demonstrated the effects of FA on the early development of this cancer\u2014inhibition of abnormal crypt foci (ACF-aberrant crypt foci), as well as the reduction in cancer cell viability and apoptosis through molecular changes, mainly a decrease in EGFR expression. The poor water solubility of FA makes it an attractive candidate for use as nanoparticles.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30051018","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]],"date-time":"2025-02-24T05:36:47Z","timestamp":1740375407000},"page":"1018","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["The Role of Ferulic Acid in Selected Malignant Neoplasms"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4078-6568","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Markowska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Perinatology, Pozna\u0144 University of Medical Science, 60-535 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2893-8389","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janina","family":"Markowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gynecologic Oncology Center Pozna\u0144, Pozna\u0144ska 58A, 60-850 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joanna","family":"Stanis\u0142awiak-Rudowicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Pozna\u0144 University of Medical Sciences, Szamarzewskiego 84, 60-514 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0706-3568","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katarzyna","family":"Kozak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u0141ukasiewicz Research Network\u2014Industrial Chemistry Institute, Rydygiera 8, 01-793 Warszawa, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Otton Krzysztof","family":"Roubinek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"\u0141ukasiewicz Research Network\u2014Industrial Chemistry Institute, Rydygiera 8, 01-793 Warszawa, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Magdalena","family":"Jasi\u0144ska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Wary\u0144skiego 1, 00-645 Warszawa, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132531","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2022.132531","article-title":"Plant flavonoids: Classification, distribution, biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity","volume":"383","author":"Shen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.3892\/or.2016.4804","article-title":"Ferulic acid exerts antitumor activity and inhibits metastasis in breast cancer cells by regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition","volume":"36","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Oncol. Rep."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1578","DOI":"10.2174\/1389557521666210120111702","article-title":"Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Applications of Ferulic Acid and its Novel Analogues: A Brief Literature","volume":"21","author":"Babbar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mini Rev. Med. Chem."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/bs.afnr.2021.02.004","article-title":"Polyphenols in foods: Classification, methods of identification, and nutritional aspects in human health","volume":"98","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Adv. Food Nutr. Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114519002538","article-title":"Plasma polyphenols associated with lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations: A cross-sectional study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition","volume":"123","author":"Harms","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/bs.apcsb.2020.12.005","article-title":"Ferulic acid-mediated modulation of apoptotic signaling pathways in cancer","volume":"125","author":"Gupta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Adv. Protein Chem. Struct. Biol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3228","DOI":"10.2174\/0929867325666180209132125","article-title":"Flavonoids in the Treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases","volume":"25","author":"Airoldi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Med. Chem."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2289","DOI":"10.2174\/1381612826666201020163331","article-title":"Ferulic Acid Activity in Topical Formulations: Technological and Scientific Prospecting","volume":"27","author":"Cavalcanti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Pharm. Des."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Roszkowski, S. (2023). Application of Polyphenols and Flavonoids in Oncological Therapy. Molecules, 28.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28104080"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpa.2015.06.009","article-title":"Enzymatic conversion of lignin into renewable","volume":"29","author":"Bugg","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chauhan, P.S. (2020). Role of various bacterial enzymes in complete depolymerization of lignin. A Rev. Biocatal. Agric. Biotechnol., 23.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bcab.2020.101498"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Iram, A., Cekmecelioglu, D., and Demirci, A. (2022). Integrating 1G with 2G Bioethanol Production by Using Distillers\u2019 Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) as the Feedstock for Lignocellulolytic Enzyme Production. Fermentation, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/fermentation8120705"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.3322\/caac.21834","article-title":"Global Cancer Statistics 2024: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries","volume":"74","author":"Bray","year":"2024","journal-title":"CA A Cancer J. Clin."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.3322\/caac.21820","article-title":"Cancer statistics","volume":"74","author":"Siegel","year":"2024","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. Clin."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1007\/s43440-023-00494-0","article-title":"Molecular mechanism of ferulic acid and its derivatives in tumor progression","volume":"75","author":"Bao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pharmacol. Rep."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tuli, H.S., Kumar, A., Ramniwas, S., Coundhary, R., Aggarwal, D., Kumar, M., Ujjawal, S., Parashar, N.C., Haque, S., and Sak, K. (2022). Ferulic Acid: A Natural Phenol That Inhibits Neoplastic Events through Modulation of Oncogenic Signaling. Molecules, 27.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27217653"},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"3015","article-title":"Chemical Properties of Caffeic and Ferulic Acids in Biological System: Implications in Cancer Therapy","volume":"23","author":"Damasceno","year":"2017","journal-title":"A Review, Curr. Pharm. Des."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24011","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms161024011","article-title":"Ferulic Acid Exerts Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Tumor Activity by Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-Mediated Angiogenesis","volume":"16","author":"Yang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paciello, F., Fetoni, A.R., Mezzogori, D., Rolesi, R., Di Pino, A., Paludetti, G., Grassi, C., and Troiani, D. (2020). The dual role of curcumin and ferulic acid in counteracting chemoresistance and cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Sci. Rep., 10.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-57965-0"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1734","DOI":"10.1166\/jbn.2019.2798","article-title":"Biotherapeutic Nanoparticles of Poly (Ferulic Acid) Delivering Doxorubicin for Cancer Therapy","volume":"15","author":"Zheng","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Nanotechnol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1016\/j.taap.2015.09.018","article-title":"Redox cycling of endogenous copper by ferulic acid leads to cellular DNA breakage and consequent cell death: A putative cancer chemotherapy mechanism","volume":"289","author":"Sarwar","year":"2015","journal-title":"Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2013.12.024","article-title":"Ferulic acid: Pharmacological and toxicological aspects","volume":"65","author":"Mancuso","year":"2014","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.breast.2022.08.010","article-title":"Current and future burden of breast cancer: Global statistics for 2020 and 2040","volume":"66","author":"Arnold","year":"2022","journal-title":"Breast"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Predarska, I., Saoud, M., Dra\u010da, D., Morgan, I., Komazec, T., Eichhorn, T., Michaliovi\u0107, E., Dunderovi\u0107, D., Mijatovi\u0107, S., and Mihajlovi\u0107-Ivani\u0107, D. (2022). Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enhance the Anticancer Efficacy of Platinum (IV)-Phenolate Conjugates in Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Nanomaterials, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano12213767"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1186\/s13020-021-00539-7","article-title":"Traditional Chinese Medicine for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer: Taohong Siwu Decoction","volume":"16","author":"Jiang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin. Med."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1080\/21691401.2024.2306529","article-title":"Studying the effects of secondary metabolites isolated from Cycas thouarsii R.Br. leaves on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells","volume":"52","author":"Alotaibi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Artif. Cells Nanomed. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Freitas Meirelles, L.E., de Souza, M.V.F., Carobeli, L.R., Morelli, F., Mari, N.L., Damke, E., Mesquita, C.S.S., Teixeira, J.J.V., Consolaro, M.E.L., and de Silva, V.R.S. (2023). Combination of Conventional Drugs with Biocompounds Derived from Cinnamic Acid: A Promising Option for Breast Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines11020275"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1007\/s10529-017-2475-2","article-title":"Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor by ferulic acid and 4-vinylguaiacol in human breast cancer cells","volume":"40","author":"Sudhagar","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4589","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S206350","article-title":"Improving the solubility and in vitro cytotoxicity (anticancer activity) of ferulic acid by loading it into cyclodextrin nanosponges","volume":"14","author":"Rezaei","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Helmy, S.A., El-Mofty, S., El Gaya, A.M., El-Sherbiny, I.M., and El-Far, Y.M. (2022). Novel doxorubicin\/folate-targeted trans-ferulic acid-loaded PLGA nanoparticles combination: In-vivo superiority over standard chemotherapeutic regimen for breast cancer treatment. Biomed. Pharmacother., 145.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2021.112376"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1021\/acsabm.3c00700","article-title":"Functionalized carbon nanotubes for delivery of ferulic acid and diosgenin anticancer natural agents","volume":"7","author":"AbouAitah","year":"2024","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Bio Mater."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e920095","DOI":"10.12659\/MSM.920095","article-title":"Ferulic Acid Induces Apoptosis of HeLa and Caski Cervical Carcinoma Cells by Down-Regulating the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K)\/Akt Signaling Pathway","volume":"26","author":"Luo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Monit."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1186\/s12935-018-0595-y","article-title":"The anticancer effects of ferulic acid is associated with induction of cell cycle arrest and autophagy in cervical cancer cells","volume":"18","author":"Gao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cancer Cell Int."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"805","DOI":"10.1039\/D2MO00025C","article-title":"A multi-omics study of the anti-cancer effect of a ferulic acid derivative FA-30","volume":"8","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mol. Omics"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Russo, G.J., Campisi, D., Di Mauro, M., Regis, F., Reale, G., Marranzano, M., Ragusa, R., Solinas, T., Madonia, M., and Cimino, S. (2017). Dietary Consumption of Phenolic Acids and Prostate Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Sicily. S. Italy Mol., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules22122159"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9437","DOI":"10.1007\/s13277-015-3689-3","article-title":"Assessment of the anticancer mechanism of ferulic acid via cell cycle and apoptotic pathways in human prostate cancer cell lines","volume":"36","author":"Dodurga","year":"2015","journal-title":"Tumour Biol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbrc.2014.09.126","article-title":"Synergistic inhibition of cancer cell proliferation with a combination of \u03b4-tocotrienol and ferulic acid","volume":"453","author":"Eitsuka","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-3835(00)00461-4","article-title":"Modifying effects of ferulicacid on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in F344 rats","volume":"157","author":"Kawabata","year":"2000","journal-title":"Cancer Lett."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6658","DOI":"10.1021\/jf050489l","article-title":"Differential effects of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid on S phase distribution and length of S phase in the human colonic cell line Caco-2","volume":"53","author":"Janicke","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"4019","article-title":"Plant Phenolics Ferulic Acid and P-Coumaric Acid Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation through EGFR Down Regulation","volume":"17","author":"Roy","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"2569","article-title":"Pharmacokinetic, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of phenolic acids in human colon adenocarcinoma cells using in vitro and in silico approaches","volume":"23","author":"Monterio","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mol. A J. Synth. Chem. Nat. Prod. Chem."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1007\/s11010-019-03606-8","article-title":"A novel compound, ferulic acid-bound resveratrol, induces the tumor suppressor gene p15 and inhibits the three-dimensional proliferation of colorectal cancer cells","volume":"462","author":"Sawata","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mol. Cell Biochem."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pyrzy\u0144ska, K. (2024). Ferulic acid\u2014A brief review of its extraction, bioavailability and biological activity. Separations, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/separations11070204"},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"e68063","article-title":"Ferulic Acid: Comprehensive Review","volume":"16","author":"Purushothaman","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureues"}],"container-title":["Molecules"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/5\/1018\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:40:44Z","timestamp":1760028044000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/5\/1018"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,23]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]}},"alternative-id":["molecules30051018"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules30051018","relation":{},"ISSN":["1420-3049"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1420-3049","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,23]]}}}