The development of chalcones as promising anticancer agents.

Chalcones are polyketide natural products that display various biological activities, including anticancer properties. Compelling data from laboratory studies indicate that chalcones have important effects on cancer cell growth and proliferation. Many mechanisms of action have been identified, including the inhibition of tubulin assembly, inhibition of angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, anti-estrogenic activity and reversal of multidrug resistance - or a combination of these mechanisms. Based on these results, chalcones appear to be promising anticancer agents.