title: Curcumin molecular targets in obesity and obesity-related cancers.
abstract: Obesity is characterized as an increased BMI, which is associated with the increased risk of several common cancers, including colorectal, breast, endometrial, renal, esophageal, gallbladder, melanoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma and prostate cancer. The increased risk of obesity-related cancers could be mediated by insulin resistance, adipokines, obesity-related inflammatory cytokines, sex hormones, transcription factors and oxidative stress, which disrupt the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. The yellowish compound, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), is known to possess multifaceted pharmacological effects. The molecular mechanisms linking obesity to cancer risk, and how curcumin mediates anticancer and obesity activities, have not yet been publicized. Curcumin modulates multiple molecular targets and reverses insulin resistance as well as other symptoms that are associated with obesity-related cancers. In this study, we show that ample evidence exists to support recommendations that curcumin mediates multiple molecular pathways, and is considered to be of therapeutic value in the treatment and prevention of obesity-related cancers.
authors.affiliation: School of life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangeok-dong, Buk-ku, Daegu 702-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Adeeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shehzad
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sup Lee
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D003474:Curcumin