Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Colon Cancer: Current Evidence for Chemopreventive and Adjuvant Roles

Colon Cancer (CC) continues to represent a significant global health challenge, with rising incidence and mortality rates. Although conventional therapeutic strategies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved clinical outcomes, they are frequently associated with severe adverse effects that compromise patients’ quality of life. This scenario has encouraged the exploration of complementary and preventive approaches based on natural dietary compounds. Recent in vitro and in vivo research has highlighted the role of dietary fiber, plant and animal proteins, and phenolic compounds in the prevention and adjuvant management of CC. These bioactive components exert multiple cellular and molecular effects, including the induction of autophagy and apoptosis, the disruption of cell cycle progression at the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, and the selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. In addition, they can modulate the expression of genes associated with cell proliferation and survival, such as p53, p27, and p21. At the immunological level, these compounds influence the secretion of key mediators, including pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), produced by macrophages, dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. Collectively, these mechanisms help maintain immune homeostasis and may help prevent CC or enhance the efficacy of current treatments. Understanding the molecular interplay between diet and tumor biology is essential to advance safer, more effective, and personalized therapeutic strategies.