title: Curcumin as a MicroRNA Regulator in Cancer: A Review.
abstract: Curcumin is a natural dietary polyphenol for which anti-tumor effects have been documented. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin, along with its immunomodulatory, proapoptotic, and antiangiogenic properties, are often referred to as the main mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effects. At the molecular level, inhibition of NF-kB, Akt/PI3K, and MAPK pathways and enhancement of p53 are among the most important anticancer alterations induced by curcumin. Recent evidence has suggested that epigenetic alterations are also involved in the anti-tumor properties of curcumin. Among these curcumin-induced epigenetic alterations is modulation of the expression of several oncogenic and tumor suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs). Suppression of oncomiRs such as miR-21, miR-17-5p, miR-20a, and miR-27a and over-expression of miR-34 a/c and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-suppressor miRNAs are among the most important effects of curcumin on miRNA homeostasis. The present review will summarize the findings of in vitro and experimental studies on the impact of curcumin and its analogues on the expression of miRNAs involved in different stages of tumor initiation, growth, metastasis, and chemo-resistance.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Nanotechnology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Abbas
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Momtazi
authors.affiliation: National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shahabipour
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khatibi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirro
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 91779-48564, Iran. sahebkara@mums.ac.ir.|Metabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. sahebkara@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Cancer; Curcumin; Epigenetics; Turmeric; miRNA