Curcumin: the multi-targeted therapy for cancer regression.
Tumors are multifaceted; in fact, numerous things happen in synchrony to enable tumor promotion and progression. Any type of cancer is associated with the modification of 300-500 normal genes and characterized by the deregulation of cell signaling pathways at multiple steps leading to cancer phenotype. Thus a proper management of tumorigenesis requires the development of multi-targeted therapies. Several adverse effects associated with present day cancer therapies and the thirsts for multi-targeted safe anticancer drug instigate the use of natural polyphenol, curcumin. It appears to involve a blend of anti-carcinogenic, pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. Also the molecular mechanisms implicated for the pleotropic activities of curcumin are diverse and seem to involve a combination of cell signaling pathways at multiple levels of tumorigenesis. Being a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species, curcumin also ameliorates systemic toxicity in tumor-bearer. Taken together, by placing particular emphasis on molecular basis of tumor promotion and progression this review summarizes the anti-cancer properties of curcumin that may be exploited for successful clinical cancer prevention.
Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata, India.
Dewan Md Sakib
DM
Hossain
Sankar
S
Bhattacharyya
Tanya
T
Das
Gaurisankar
G
Sa
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003474:Curcumin