AUTHOR=Prasher Parteek , Sharma Mousmee , Singh Sachin Kumar , Gulati Monica , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Rajput Rashi , Gupta Gaurav , Ydyrys Alibek , Kulbayeva Marzhan , Abdull Razis Ahmad Faizal , Modu Babagana , Sharifi-Rad Javad , Dua Kamal 

TITLE=Spermidine as a promising anticancer agent: Recent advances and newer insights on its molecular mechanisms

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2023.1164477

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2023.1164477

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine compound found in semen and several plant sources, has a remarkable biological profile, particularly its anticancer properties. Spermidine helps to control the cancer pathogenesis by halting the cell cycle, inhibiting tumour cell proliferation, and suppressing tumor growth. It also triggers autophagy by regulating key oncologic pathways. The increased intake of polyamines, such as spermidine, can suppress oncogenesis and slow the growth of existing tumors due to its role in anticancer immunosurveillance and regulation of polyamine metabolism. The spermidine/spermine N-1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) enzyme, which plays a critical role in polyamine homeostasis, can serve as a diagnostic marker in human cancers. Additionally, chemically modified derivatives of spermidine hold great potential for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications against various malignancies. In this review, we will explore the anticancer properties of spermidine in detail.