Fisetin / NRF2 Cancer Research Results

FIS, Fisetin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Fisetin is a plant based flavonoid. Found in strawberries(160ug/g), apples, persimmons, onions, cucumbers, grapes.

-Note half-life 3-4hrs
- Oral BioAv low (40-50%)
Pathways:
- induce ROS production in cancer cells, but also known to reduce it.
Also a claim Fisetin-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production Has No Effect on Apoptosis in RCC cells
Also one claim (NAC 10-20mM levels) that NAC enhances ROS/apoptosis
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓
- Does not appear to lower antioxidants in cancer cells
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑">NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓,
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, uPA↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, TGF-β↓, ERK↓
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓, TOP1↓, TET1↓,
- inhibits HIF-1α↓, cMyc↓, LDH↓, GRP78↑,
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, EGFR↓,
- inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CD133↓, β-catenin↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK↓, ERK↓, JNK,
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Fisetin effect on Cancer Cells
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 PI3K → AKT → mTOR axis ↓ AKT / ↓ mTOR signaling ↔ adaptive suppression Driver Loss of survival and growth signaling Fisetin consistently suppresses pro-survival PI3K/AKT signaling, supporting growth inhibition and sensitization to stress
2 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation ↓ inflammatory NF-κB tone Driver Suppression of inflammatory survival transcription NF-κB inhibition contributes to anti-inflammatory effects and reduced tumor-supportive signaling
3 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (context- & dose-dependent) ↓ ROS Conditional Driver Biphasic redox modulation Fisetin can act as a pro-oxidant in cancer cells at higher stress/dose while remaining antioxidant in normal cells
4 Mitochondrial integrity / intrinsic apoptosis ↓ ΔΨm; ↑ caspase activation ↔ preserved Secondary Execution of intrinsic apoptosis Mitochondrial apoptosis occurs downstream of signaling and redox disruption
5 Cell cycle regulation ↑ G1 or G2/M arrest ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth control Cell-cycle arrest reflects upstream pathway inhibition rather than direct CDK blockade
6 Senescence / senolytic action ↑ senescence clearance (senescent-like tumor/stroma subsets) ↓ senescent cell burden (selective) Secondary Selective vulnerability of senescent-like cells Fisetin is commonly described as senolytic; in cancer context this may impact tumor microenvironment and therapy-induced senescence
7 MAPK stress signaling (JNK / p38) ↑ JNK / ↑ p38 (context-dependent) ↔ minimal Secondary Stress-mediated apoptosis signaling MAPK activation often follows ROS increase and supports apoptotic signaling
8 NRF2 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 (adaptive, context-dependent) ↑ NRF2 (protective) Adaptive Stress compensation NRF2 activation reflects redox buffering responses rather than primary cytotoxicity
9 Migration / invasion (EMT, MMP axis) ↓ migration & invasion ↔ Phenotypic Anti-metastatic phenotype Reduced EMT and protease activity limit invasive behavior downstream of signaling changes


NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: TCGA
Type: Antiapoptotic
Nrf2 is responsible for regulating an extensive panel of antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification and elimination of oxidative stress. Thought of as "Master Regulator" of antioxidant response.
-One way to estimate Nrf2 induction is through the expression of NQO1.
NQO1, the most potent inducer:
SFN 0.2 μM,
quercetin (2.5 μM),
curcumin (2.7 μM),
Silymarin (3.6 μM),
tamoxifen (5.9 μM),
genistein (6.2 μM ),
beta-carotene (7.2μM),
lutein (17 μM),
resveratrol (21 μM),
indol-3-carbinol (50 μM),
chlorophyll (250 μM),
alpha-cryptoxanthin (1.8 mM),
and zeaxanthin (2.2 mM)

1. Raising Nrf2 enhances the cell's antioxidant defenses and ↓ROS. This strategy is used to decrease chemo-radio side effects.
2. Downregulating Nrf2 lowers antioxidant defenses and ↑ROS. In cancer cells this leads to DNA damage, and cell death.
3. However there are some cases where increasing Nrf2 paradoxically causes an increase in ROS (cancer cells). Such as cases of Mitochondial overload, signal crosstalk, reductive stress

-In some cases, Nrf2 is overexpressed in cancer cells, which can lead to the activation of genes involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This can contribute to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
-Increased Nrf2 expression: Lung, Breast, Colorectal, Prostrate.
Decreased Nrf2 expression: Skine, Liver, Pancreatic.
-Nrf2 is a cytoprotective transcription factor which demonstrated both a negative effect as well as a positive effect on cancer
- "promotes Nrf2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus," means facilitates the movement of Nrf2 into the nucleus, thereby enhancing the cell's antioxidant and cytoprotective responses. -Major regulator of Nrf2 activity in cells is the cytosolic inhibitor Keap1.

Nrf2 Inhibitors and Activators
Nrf2 Inhibitors: Brusatol, Luteolin, Trigonelline, VitC, Retinoic acid, Chrysin
Nrf2 Activators: SFN, OPZ EGCG, Resveratrol, DATS, CUR, CDDO, Api
- potent Nrf2 inducers from plants include sulforaphane, curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, wasabi, cafestol and kahweol (coffee), cinnamon, ginger, garlic, lycopene, rosemany

Nrf2 plays dual roles in that it can protect normal tissues against oxidative damage and can act as an oncogenic protein in tumor tissue.
– In healthy tissues, NRF2 activation helps protect cells from oxidative damage and maintains cellular homeostasis.
– In many cancers, constitutive activation of NRF2 (often through mutations in NRF2 itself or loss-of-function mutations in KEAP1) leads to an enhanced antioxidant capacity.
– This upregulation can promote tumor cell survival by enabling cancer cells to thrive under oxidative stress, resist chemotherapeutic agents, and sustain metabolic reprogramming.
– Elevated NRF2 levels have been implicated in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in various malignancies.
– High or sustained NRF2 activity is frequently associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, poorer prognosis, and decreased overall survival in several cancer types.
– While its activation is essential for protecting normal cells from oxidative stress, aberrant or sustained NRF2 activation in tumor cells can lead to enhanced survival, therapeutic resistance, and tumor progression.

NRF2 inhibitors: (to decrease antioxidant defenses and increase cell death from ROS).
-Brusatol: most cited natural inhibitors of Nrf2.
-Luteolin: luteolin can reduce Nrf2 activity in specific cancer models and may enhance cell sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, luteolin is also known as an antioxidant, and its influence on Nrf2 can sometimes be context dependent.
-Apigenin: certain studies to down‑regulate Nrf2 in cancer cells: Dose and context dependent .
-Oridonin:
-Wogonin: although its effects might be cell‑ and dose‑specific.
- Withaferin A

Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2852- FIS,    A comprehensive view on the fisetin impact on colorectal cancer in animal models: Focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms
- Review, CRC, NA
Risk↓, P53↑, MDM2↓, COX2↓, Wnt↓, NF-kB↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, p‑RB1↓, cycE/CCNE↓, P21↑, NRF2↓, ROS↑, Casp8↑, Fas↑, TRAIL↑, DR5↑, MMP↓, Cyt‑c↑, selectivity↑, P450↝, GSTs↝, RadioS↑, Inflam↓, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, EGFR↓, TumCCA↑, ChemoSen↑,
2845- FIS,    Fisetin: A bioactive phytochemical with potential for cancer prevention and pharmacotherapy
- Review, Var, NA
PI3K↓, Akt↓, mTOR↓, p38↓, *antiOx↑, *neuroP↑, Casp3↑, Bcl-2↓, Mcl-1↓, BAX↑, BIM↑, BAD↑, AMPK↑, ACC↑, DNAdam↑, MMP↓, eff↑, ROS↑, cl‑PARP↑, Cyt‑c↑, Diablo↑, P53↑, p65↓, Myc↓, HSP70/HSPA5↓, HSP27↓, COX2↓, Wnt↓, EGFR↓, NF-kB↓, TumCCA↑, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, cycA1/CCNA1↓, P21↑, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, TumMeta↓, MMP1↓, MMP3↓, MMP7↓, MET↓, N-cadherin↓, Vim↓, Snail↓, Fibronectin↓, E-cadherin↑, uPA↓, ChemoSen↑, EMT↓, Twist↓, Zeb1↓, cFos↓, cJun↓, EGF↓, angioG↓, VEGF↓, eNOS↓, *NRF2↑, HO-1↑, NRF2↓, GSTs↓, ATF4↓,
2838- FIS,    Fisetin induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by suppressing autophagy and down-regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)
cl‑Casp3↑, cl‑PARP↑, MMP↓, Cyt‑c↑, ROS↑, NRF2↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

GSTs↓, 1,   GSTs↝, 1,   HO-1↑, 1,   NRF2↓, 3,   ROS↑, 3,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

EGF↓, 1,   MMP↓, 3,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

ACC↑, 1,   AMPK↑, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↓, 1,   BAD↑, 1,   BAX↑, 1,   Bcl-2↓, 1,   BIM↑, 1,   Casp3↑, 1,   cl‑Casp3↑, 1,   Casp8↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 3,   Diablo↑, 1,   DR5↑, 1,   Fas↑, 1,   Mcl-1↓, 1,   MDM2↓, 1,   Myc↓, 1,   p38↓, 1,   TRAIL↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics ⓘ

cJun↓, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

HSP27↓, 1,   HSP70/HSPA5↓, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

DNAdam↑, 1,   P53↑, 2,   cl‑PARP↑, 2,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

CDK2↓, 2,   CDK4↓, 2,   cycA1/CCNA1↓, 1,   cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,   cycE/CCNE↓, 1,   P21↑, 2,   p‑RB1↓, 1,   TumCCA↑, 2,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

cFos↓, 1,   EMT↓, 1,   mTOR↓, 1,   PI3K↓, 1,   Wnt↓, 2,  

Migration ⓘ

E-cadherin↑, 1,   Fibronectin↓, 1,   MET↓, 1,   MMP1↓, 1,   MMP2↓, 1,   MMP3↓, 1,   MMP7↓, 1,   MMP9↓, 1,   N-cadherin↓, 1,   Snail↓, 1,   TumMeta↓, 1,   Twist↓, 1,   uPA↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,   Zeb1↓, 1,   β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↓, 1,   ATF4↓, 1,   EGFR↓, 2,   eNOS↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

COX2↓, 2,   Inflam↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 2,   p65↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

ChemoSen↑, 2,   eff↑, 1,   P450↝, 1,   RadioS↑, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

EGFR↓, 2,   Myc↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

Risk↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 78

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

neuroP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 3

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
3 Fisetin
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:78  Target#:226  State#:%  Dir#:1
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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