Phytochemicals - an alternative therapy for glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Despite current treatment options including surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) and cisplatin, median survival rates remain low (<16 months). Combined with increasing drug resistance and the inability of some compounds to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), novel compounds are being sought for the treatment of this disease. Phytochemicals are bioactive, non-nutrient plant chemicals which are structurally sub-divided into 5 groups. Of these groups, phenolics are the most common and widely studied, with flavonoids being the most abundant. With their reduced side-effect profile and ability to cross the BBB, phytochemicals offer potential to improve current glioblastoma treatment options