New Perspectives of Curcumin in Cancer Prevention

Abstract

Numerous natural compounds have been extensively investigated for their potential for cancer prevention over decades. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa, is a highly promising natural compound that can be potentially used for chemoprevention of multiple cancers. Curcumin modulates multiple molecular pathways involved in the lengthy carcinogenesis process to exert its chemopreventive effects through several mechanisms: promoting apoptosis, inhibiting survival signals, scavenging reactive oxidative species (ROS), and reducing the inflammatory cancer microenvironment. Curcumin fulfills the characteristics for an ideal chemopreventive agent with its low toxicity, affordability, and easy accessibility. Nevertheless, the clinical application of curcumin is currently compromised by its poor bioavailability. Here we review the potential of curcumin in cancer prevention, its molecular targets, and action mechanisms. Finally, we suggest specific recommendations to improve its efficacy and bioavailability for clinical applications.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signal Transduction in Solid Tumors

“…In prostate cancer tissues, people found up-regulation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) (Sfanos et al, 2012), indicating that the MAPK pathway may play an important role. Also, inflammation-related molecule COX-2 may be over-expressed in prostate cancer, COX-2 can be a transcription factor involved in inflammation-mediated stem cell proliferation (Park et al, 2013) (mainly via prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (Thanan et al, 2012;Dixon et al, 2013), while in turn, inhibition of COX-2 by lasiodin could down-regulate the MAPK signaling pathways , which finally reduced bladder carcinogenesis (Thanan et al, 2012). The p38 MAPK signaling is proved to be essential in inflammation, perhaps by regulating the function of macrophages (Yang et al, 2014), in some of these cancers, cytokine IL-6 and IL6-R which function in activation of inflammatory and androgen receptor (AR) are up-regulated (Sfanos et al, 2012).…”

Curcumin mediates reversion of HGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition via inhibition of c-Met expression in DU145 cells

“…The anticancer effects of curcumin have been widely studied, and it is regarded as a promising drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of cancer (22). It is considered that the mechanism underlying the anticarcinogenic effects of curcumin involves the induction of cancer cell apoptosis via regulation of the expression of anti-oncogenes, oncogenes and the cell cycle (22).…”

“…It is considered that the mechanism underlying the anticarcinogenic effects of curcumin involves the induction of cancer cell apoptosis via regulation of the expression of anti-oncogenes, oncogenes and the cell cycle (22). However, previous studies have revealed that curcumin is able to inhibit cancer cell invasion and metastasis via signaling changes.…”

Targeting Epigenetically Deregulated miRNA by Nutraceuticals: Focusing on Cancer Prevention and Treatment

“…Many in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that curcumin possesses antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activity [61][62][63]. Recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin could alter the expression level of several miRNAs through epigenetic regulation.…”