OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the molecular mechanisms of NOD-like receptor signaling in inflammation-associated cancers and the NLRs-targeted botanicals and synthetic small molecules in cancer intervention.
RESULTS: Aberrant activation of NLRs occurs in various cancers, orchestrating the tissue microenvironment and potentiating neoplastic risk. Blocking NLR inflammasome activation by botanicals or synthetic small molecules may be a valuable way to prevent cancer progression. Moreover, due to the roles of NLRs in regulating cytokine production, NLR signaling may be correlated with senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
CONCLUSIONS: In this review, we discuss how NLR signaling is involved in inflammation-associated cancers, and highlight the NLR-targeted botanicals and synthetic small molecules in cancer intervention.