Curcumin: Modulator of Key Molecular Signaling Pathways in Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer

Neuroprotective effect of curcumin against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced cognitive and physical impairments in mice: an insight into the role of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable chronic neurodegenerative disease where autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation collaboration predispose myelin sheath destruction. Interestingly, curcumin, a natural polyphenol, showed a neuroprotective effect in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including MS. Nevertheless, the influence of curcumin against MS-induced cognitive impairment is still vague. Hence, we induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice using spinal cord homogenate (SCH) and complete Freund's adjuvant, which eventually mimic MS. This study aimed not only to evaluate curcumin efficacy against EAE-induced cognitive and motor dysfunction, but also to explore a novel mechanism of action, by which curcumin exerts its beneficial effects in MS. Curcumin (200 mg/kg/day) efficacy was evaluated by behavioral tests, histopathological examination, and biochemical tests. Concisely, curcumin amended EAE-induced cognitive and motor impairments, as demonstrated by the behavioral tests and histopathological examination of the hippocampus. Interestingly, curcumin activated the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase/silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (AMPK/SIRT1) axis, which triggered cyclic AMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor/myelin basic protein (CREB/BDNF/MBP) pathway, hindering demyelination of the corpus callosum. Furthermore, AMPK/SIRT1 activation augmented nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a powerful antioxidant, amending EAE-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, curcumin abolished EAE-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting Janus kinase 2 /signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) axis, by various pathways, including AMPK/SIRT1 activation. JAK2/STAT3 inhibition halts inflammatory cytokines synthesis. In conclusion, curcumin's neuroprotective effect in EAE is controlled, at least in part, by AMPK/SIRT1 activation, which ultimately minimizes EAE-induced neuronal demyelination, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.

Curcumin-derived carbon quantum dots: Dual actions in mitigating tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid beta aggregation

The amyloid cascade and tau hypotheses both hold significant implications for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin shows potential by inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and reducing tau hyperphosphorylation, however, its use is limited due to issues with solubility and bioavailability. Carbon dots, recognized for their high biocompatibility and optimal water solubility, have demonstrated the capability to inhibit either Aβ or tau aggregation. Nonetheless, their effects on tau hyperphosphorylation are yet to be extensively explored. This study aims to evaluate the water-soluble curcumin-derived carbon quantum dots (Cur-CQDs) synthesized via an eco-friendly method, designed to preserve the beneficial effects of curcumin while overcoming solubility challenges. The synthesis of Cur-CQDs involves a single-step dry heating process using curcumin, resulting in dots that exhibit negligible cytotoxicity to SH-SY5Y cells at the examined concentrations. Notably, Cur-CQDs have shown the ability to simultaneously mitigate Aβ aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation. Therefore, it is suggested that Cur-CQDs may hold potential for AD treatment, a hypothesis deserving of further research.

Curcumin modulates cell type-specific miRNA networks to induce cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells

AIM

To understand the epigenetic role of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from the spice Curcuma longa in inducing cytotoxicity in two molecularly distinct ovarian cancer cell lines: PA1 and A2780.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An integrated mRNA-miRNA sequence analysis was performed to determine the curcumin-induced mRNA-miRNA regulatory networks in the induction of cytotoxicity. The miRNA-mRNA pathways, the miRNAs and their targets implicated in apoptosis, autophagy, DNA damage, and stemness markers were validated. Gene/miRNA expressions were validated using qPCR and protein expressions by western blotting. Curcumin-induced oncogenic /tumor-suppressor miRNAs were profiled utilising the oncomiRdb database. Similarly, the expressions of oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes were profiled and correlated with the TCGA ovarian cancer dataset. A dual luciferase assay was performed to investigate the interaction of miR-199a-5p to its direct target, DDR1.

KEY FINDINGS

The expression of several miRNAs demonstrated an inverse correlation with their respective direct targets. In curcumin-treated PA1 cells, miR-335-5p target ATG5 (autophagic), and OCT4 (pluripotent gene) were downregulated, miR-32a target PTEN (tumor suppressor) was upregulated, miR-1285 target P53 (tumor suppressor) was upregulated, and both miR-182-5p and miR-503-3p target BCL2, were down-regulated. Contrastingly, in curcumin-treated A2780 cells, miR-181a-3p target ATG5, miR-30a-5p, and miR-216a target BECN1 (autophagic) were upregulated, and miR-129a-5p target BCL2 were downregulated. The reversal of the oncomiR/TSmiR profile revealed suppression of oncogenic processes by curcumin. Curcumin treatment induced a moderate cisplatin-sensitisation effect and impaired epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics. Curcumin also regulated the miR-199a-5p/DDR1 axis with a decrease in collagen deposition.

SIGNIFICANCE

The activity of curcumin is cell-type specific. Distinct miRNA regulatory networks were activated to induce multiple modes of cellular cytotoxicity in these ovarian cancer cells. This study further highlights the molecular mechanism of curcumin action in ovarian cancers establishing its candidacy as a promising drug candidate.

Targeting Melanoma with a phytochemical pool: Tailing Makisterone C

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

According to World Health Organization, melanoma claims the lives of about 48000 people worldwide each year. The purpose of this study was to identify potential phytochemical pool from Diplazium esculentum against proteins that contribute to melanoma development.

METHODS

The research was carried to locate potentially bioactive molecules and conduct a theoretical analysis of active ingredients from DE to impact melanoma. Network pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, protein network interaction, gene enrichment, survival, and infiltration analysis were conducted. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation was carried out for makisterone C-MAPK1, MAPK3, and AKT1 complexes.

RESULTS

The potential phytochemical pool were identified (stigmast-5-en-3-ol, esculentic acid, rutin, and makisterone C) and based on network pharmacology and molecular docking studies, makisterone-C was proposed to be the most promising ingredient. Furthermore, the investigation revealed 14 genes as critical "hubs" involved in combating melanoma that are manipulated by the above-mentioned 4 active ingredients and modulate multiple signaling in melanoma development.

CONCLUSION

This study insights into the potential anti-melanoma effects of phytochemical pool from Diplazium esculentum using network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and simulation tailing makisterone C as a lead moiety and suggests the need for makisterone C further evaluation in intervening melanoma progression.

Single Functional Group Platform for Multistimuli Responsivities: Tertiary Amine for CO2/pH/ROS-Triggered Cargo Release in Nanocarriers

The design of multistimuli-responsive soft nanoparticles (NPs) often presents synthetic complexities and limited breadth in exploiting changes surrounding physiological environments. Nanocarriers that could collectively take advantage of several endogenous stimuli can offer a powerful tool in nanomedicine. Herein, we have capitalized on the chemical versatility of a single tertiary amine to construct miktoarm polymer-based nanocarriers that respond to dissolved CO2, varied pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ROS + CO2. Curcumin (Cur), an anti-inflammatory phytopharmaceutic, was loaded into micelles, and we validated the sensitivity of the tertiary amine in tuning Cur release. An in vitro evaluation indicated that Cur encapsulation strongly suppressed its toxicity at high concentrations, significantly inhibited nigericin-induced secretion of interleukin-1β by THP-1 macrophages, and the proportion of M2/M1 (anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory macrophages) was higher for Cur-loaded NPs than for free Cur. Our approach highlights the potential of a simple-by-design strategy in expanding the scope of polymeric NPs in drug delivery.

Nano-based formulations of curcumin: elucidating the potential benefits and future prospects in skin cancer

Skin cancer refers to any malignant lesions that occur in the skin and are observed predominantly in populations of European descent. Conventional treatment modalities such as excision biopsy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, electrodesiccation, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) induce several unintended side effects which affect a patient's quality of life and physical well-being. Therefore, spice-derived nutraceuticals like curcumin, which are well tolerated, less expensive, and relatively safe, have been considered a promising agent for skin cancer treatment. Curcumin, a chemical constituent extracted from the Indian spice, turmeric, and its analogues has been used in various mammalian cancers including skin cancer. Curcumin has anti-neoplastic activity by triggering the process of apoptosis and preventing the multiplication and infiltration of the cancer cells by inhibiting some signaling pathways and thus subsequently preventing the process of carcinogenesis. Curcumin is also a photosensitizer and has been used in PDT. The major limitations associated with curcumin are poor bioavailability, instability, limited permeation into the skin, and lack of solubility in water. This will constrain the use of curcumin in clinical settings. Hence, developing a proper formulation that can ideally release curcumin to its targeted site is important. So, several nanoformulations based on curcumin have been established such as nanogels, nanoemulsions, nanofibers, nanopatterned films, nanoliposomes and nanoniosomes, nanodisks, and cyclodextrins. The present review mainly focuses on curcumin and its analogues as therapeutic agents for treating different types of skin cancers. The significance of using various nanoformulations as well non-nanoformulations loaded with curcumin as an effective treatment modality for skin cancer is also emphasized.

Overcoming the Challenges of Phytochemicals in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy: The Path Forward

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptor expression. TNBC is thought to be produced by Wnt, Notch, TGF-beta, and VEGF pathway activation, which leads to cell invasion and metastasis. To address this, the use of phytochemicals as a therapeutic option for TNBC has been researched. Plants contain natural compounds known as phytochemicals. Curcumin, resveratrol, and EGCG are phytochemicals that have been found to inhibit the pathways that cause TNBC, but their limited bioavailability and lack of clinical evidence for their use as single therapies pose challenges to the use of these phytochemical therapies. More research is required to better understand the role of phytochemicals in TNBC therapy, or to advance the development of more effective delivery mechanisms for these phytochemicals to the site where they are required. This review will discuss the promise shown by phytochemicals as a treatment option for TNBC.

The evaluation of chitosan hydrogel based curcumin effect on DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, MEG3, HOTAIR gene expression in glioblastoma cell line

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the most important causes of death worldwide. Some types of cancer, including glioblastoma, with a high potential for growth, invasion, and resistance to general treatments, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have a high potential for recurrence. Many chemical drugs have been used to treat it, but herbal drugs are more effective with fewer side effects; Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effect of curcumin-chitosan nano-complex on the expression of MEG3, HOTAIR, DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B genes in the glioblastoma cell line.

METHODS

In this research, glioblastoma cell line, PCR and spectrophotometry techniques, MTT test and transmission, field emission transmission, and fluorescent electron microscopes were used.

RESULTS

The morphological examination of the curcumin-chitosan nano-complex was without clumping, and the fluorescent microscope examination showed the nano-complex enters the cell and affects the genes expression. In its bioavailability studies, it was found that it significantly increases the death of cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Gene expression tests showed that this nano-complex increased MEG3 gene expression compared to the control group, which is statistically significant (p < 0.05). It also decreased HOTAIR gene expression compared to the control group, which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). It decreased the expression of DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B genes compared to the control group, which is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

By using active plant substances such as curcumin, the active demethylation of brain cells can be directed to the path of inhibiting the growth of brain cancer cells and eliminating them.

Curcumin and Plumbagin Synergistically Target the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway: A Prospective Role in Cancer Treatment

Cancer development is associated with the deregulation of various cell signaling pathways brought on by certain genetic and epigenetic alterations. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies have been developed to target those pathways. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway is one major deregulated pathway in various types of cancer. Several anticancer drug candidates are currently being investigated in preclinical and/or clinical studies to target this pathway. Natural bioactive compounds provide an excellent source for anticancer drug development. Curcumin and plumbagin are two potential anticancer compounds that have been shown to target the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway individually. However, their combinatorial effect on cancer cells is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the synergistic effect of these two compounds on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway by employing a sequential molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) analysis. An increase in binding affinity and a decrease in inhibition constant have been observed when curcumin and plumbagin were subjected to sequential docking against the key proteins PI3K, Akt, and mTOR. The MD simulations and molecular mechanics combined with generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) analyses validated the target proteins’ more stable conformation when interacting with the curcumin and plumbagin combination. This indicates the synergistic role of curcumin and plumbagin against cancer cells and the possible dose advantage when used in combination. The findings of this study pave the way for further investigation of their combinatorial effect on cancer cells in vitro and in vivo models.

Defining the Emergence of New Immunotherapy Approaches in Breast Cancer: Role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be the most diagnosed tumor in women and a very heterogeneous disease both inter- and intratumoral, mainly given by the variety of molecular profiles with different biological and clinical characteristics. Despite the advancements in early detection and therapeutic strategies, the survival rate is low in patients who develop metastatic disease. Therefore, it is mandatory to explore new approaches to achieve better responses. In this regard, immunotherapy arose as a promising alternative to conventional treatments due to its ability to modulate the immune system, which may play a dual role in this disease since the relationship between the immune system and BC cells depends on several factors: the tumor histology and size, as well as the involvement of lymph nodes, immune cells, and molecules that are part of the tumor microenvironment. Particularly, myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) expansion is one of the major immunosuppressive mechanisms used by breast tumors since it has been associated with worse clinical stage, metastatic burden, and poor efficacy of immunotherapies. This review focuses on the new immunotherapies in BC in the last five years. Additionally, the role of MDSC as a therapeutic target in breast cancer will be described.

Inhibition of ATF4-mediated elevation of both autophagy and AKT/mTOR was involved in antitumorigenic activity of curcumin

Curcumin, a natural hydrophobic polyphenol, carries significant anticancer activity. The protein kinase B (AKT)/the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and autophagy are well known to be involved in carcinogenesis, and usually, inhibition of mTOR is the main reason to promote autophagy. In this study, however, autophagy and mTOR were found to be inhibited simultaneously by curcumin treatments, and both of them played an important role in the effect of curcumin on suppressing the growth of A549 cells. Tunicamycin (TM), the activator of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, increased both autophagy and AKT/mTOR, while curcumin could significantly decrease TM-induced autophagy and AKT/mTOR. Furthermore, curcumin could inhibit TM-induced aerobic glycolysis in A549 cells, and decrease the level of cycle-related and migration-related proteins. Blocking activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) by siRNA strongly reduced both the expression of autophagy-related proteins and AKT/mTOR. ChIP assay illustrated that ATF4 protein could bind to the promotor sequence of either ATG4B or AKT1. The transplantation tumor experiment showed that the weight and volume of the transplanted tumors were reduced significantly in the BALB/c mice subcutaneously injected with A549 cells treated with curcumin. Moreover, intranasal administration of curcumin decreased the protein level of autophagy, AKT/mTOR and ER stress in lung tissues of BALB/c mice. Taken together, our results demonstrated that inhibition of ER stress-dependent ATF4-mediated autophagy and AKT/mTOR pathway plays an important role in anticancer effect of curcumin.

Curcumin inhibits human leiomyoma xenograft tumor growth and induces dissolution of the extracellular matrix

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a curcumin-supplemented diet would prevent and/or treat uterine leiomyoma growth in our mouse xenograft model.

DESIGN

Animal study.

SETTING

Laboratory study.

PATIENT(S)

N/A.

INTERVENTION(S)

Curcumin-supplemented diet.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Dietary intake, blood concentrations, tumor size, extracellular matrix protein concentrations, apoptosis markers.

RESULT(S)

We found that curcumin was well tolerated as a dietary supplement, free curcumin and its metabolites were detected in the serum, and exposure resulted in approximately 60% less leiomyoma xenograft growth as well as dissolution of the peripheral extracellular matrix architecture of the xenografts. The production of matrix proteins, including collagens, decreased, whereas the number of apoptotic cells in the xenografts increased. Additionally, when xenografts were placed in a uterine intramural location, we found a significantly increased apoptotic response to curcumin in the diet.

CONCLUSION(S)

Mice on a diet supplemented with curcumin could achieve serum concentrations sufficient to regulate human leiomyoma xenograft growth, and curcumin could play both preventive and curative roles in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma as an oral nutritional supplement.

Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation and promotes autophagy in breast cancer cell lines with varying hormonal sensitivity by regulating Beclin-1, LC3, and p62

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) in cell proliferation and autophagy in breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Cell lines were cultured in vitro and the appropriate dose was determined by the MTT method. In order to show the effect of GL on autophagy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, Beclin-1, LC3 and p62 expression were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. Additionally, cell cycle analysis was carried out in GL-treated and untreated cells using a cell cycle analysis kit to look into how GL affects cell division. Results: Viability level was significantly reduced in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells incubated with 40 and 80 μM concentrations of GL for 24 hours. In addition, GL induced the initiation of autophagy in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, as evidenced by enhanced levels of Beclin-1, LC3 and p62 expression. At the same time, this study showed that GL induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phases. Conclusion: GL has anti-proliferative activity by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and accelerates cell death by inducing autophagy, particularly in aggressive breast cancers that are resistant to treatment..

A multi-targeting natural product, aiphanol, inhibits tumor growth and metastasis

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in humans worldwide, the development of more effective anticancer drugs that can inhibit the malignant progression of cancer cells is of great significance. Aiphanol is a natural product identified from the seeds of Arecaceae and the rhizome of Smilax glabra Roxb. Our preliminary studies revealed that it had potential antiangiogenic and antilymphangiogenic activity by directly targeting VEGFR2/3 and COX2 in endothelial cells. However, the influence of aiphanol on cancer cells per se remains largely undefined. In this study, the effects and related mechanisms of aiphanol on cancer growth and metastasis were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Acute toxicity assay and pharmacokinetic analysis were utilized to investigate the safety profile and metabolism characteristics of aiphanol. We revealed that aiphanol inhibited the proliferation of various types of cancer cells and the growth of xenograft tumors in mice and zebrafish models. The possible mechanism was associated with the inactivation of multiple kinases, including FAK, AKT and ERK, and the upregulation of BAX and cleaved caspase-3 to promote cancer cell apoptosis. Aiphanol significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion, which was related to the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and F-actin aggregation. Aiphanol effectively attenuated the metastasis of several types of cancer cells in vivo. In addition, aiphanol exerted no significant toxicity and had fast metabolism. Collectively, we demonstrated the anticancer effects of aiphanol and suggested that aiphanol has potential as a safe and effective therapeutic agent to treat cancer.

Novel Curcumin Derivative-Decorated Ultralong-Circulating Paclitaxel Nanoparticles: A Novel Delivery System with Superior Anticancer Efficacy and Safety

Purpose

Paclitaxel (PTX) has been widely utilized for the treatment of breast cancer. However, drawbacks, such as poor aqueous solubility, rapid blood clearance and severe toxicity, greatly reduce its efficacy and safety. Herein, a novel self-developed curcumin derivative (CUD) was chosen as the carrier to develop a long-acting PTX nano-delivery system (PTX-Sln@CUD) in order to improve its pharmacokinetic behavior, anti-breast cancer efficacy and safety.

Methods

PTX-Sln@CUD was prepared using solid dispersion and ultrasonic technology. Relevant physical and chemical properties, including stability and release behavior, were characterized. The clearance of PTX-Sln@CUD in vivo was studied by pharmacokinetic experiments. The anti-tumor activity of PTX-Sln@CUD was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Hemolysis experiments, acute toxicity and cumulative toxicity studies were performed in mice to determine the safety of PTX-Sln@CUD.

Results

The average particle size, PDI, Zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency of the PTX-Sln@CUD were 238.5 ± 4.79 nm, 0.225 ± 0.011, −33.8 ± 1.26 mV, 94.20 ± 0.49% and 10.98 ± 0.31%, respectively. PTX-Sln@CUD was found to be stable at room temperature for half a year. The cumulative release rates of PTX-Sln@CUD at 24, 96 and 168 h were 17.98 ± 2.60, 57.09 ± 2.32 and 72.66 ± 4.16%, respectively, which were adherent to zero-order kinetics. T_1/2, MRT _(0-t) and AUC _(0-t) of the PTX-Sln@CUD group were 4.03-fold (44.293 h), 7.78-fold (38.444 h) and 6.18-fold (14.716 mg/L*h) of the PTX group, respectively. PTX-Sln@CUD group demonstrated stronger anti-breast cancer activity than the PTX group. Importantly, the PTX-Sln@CUD group was safer compared to the PTX group both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

PTX-Sln@CUD was verified as promising therapeutic nanoparticles for breast cancer and provided a novel strategy to solve the problem of low efficacy and poor safety of clinical chemotherapy drugs.

Review of Under-Recognized Adjunctive Therapies for Cancer

Patients and providers may not be aware that several adjunctive measures can significantly improve the quality of life, response to treatment, and possibly outcomes for cancer patients. This manuscript presents a review of practical under-recognized adjunctive therapies that are effective including exercise; stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, massage, yoga, Tai Chi, breathing exercises; importance of sleep quality; diet modifications such as calorie restriction at the time of chemotherapy and avoidance of high carbohydrate foods; supplements such as aspirin, green tea, turmeric, and melatonin; and repurposed prescription medications such as metformin and statins. Each recommendation should be tailored to the individual patient to assure no contraindications.

The Anticancer Potential of Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals via the Modulation of Gene Expression

Current studies show that approximately one-third of all cancer-related deaths are linked to diet and several cancer forms are preventable with balanced nutrition, due to dietary compounds being able to reverse epigenetic abnormalities. An appropriate diet in cancer patients can lead to changes in gene expression and enhance the efficacy of therapy. It has been demonstrated that nutraceuticals can act as powerful antioxidants at the cellular level as well as anticarcinogenic agents. This review is focused on the best studies on worldwide-available plant-derived nutraceuticals: curcumin, resveratrol, sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol, quercetin, astaxanthin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and lycopene. These compounds have an enhanced effect on epigenetic changes such as histone modification via HDAC (histone deacetylase), HAT (histone acetyltransferase) inhibition, DNMT (DNA methyltransferase) inhibition, and non-coding RNA expression. All of these nutraceuticals are reported to positively modulate the epigenome, reducing cancer incidence. Furthermore, the current review addresses the issue of the low bioavailability of nutraceuticals and how to overcome the drawbacks related to their oral administration. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutraceuticals influence gene expression will allow their incorporation into an “epigenetic diet” that could be further capitalized on in the therapy of cancer.

Nanoparticulate drugs and vaccines: Breakthroughs and bottlenecks of repurposing in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly diagnosed and topmost cause of death in females worldwide. Drug repurposing (DR) has shown great potential against BC by overcoming major shortcomings of approved anticancer therapeutics. However, poor physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic performance, stability, non-selectivity to tumors, and side effects are severe hurdles in repurposed drug delivery against BC. The variety of nanocarriers (NCs) has shown great promise in delivering repurposed therapeutics for effective treatment of BC via improving solubility, stability, tumor selectivity and reducing toxicity. Besides, delivering repurposed cargos via theranostic NCs can be helpful in the quick diagnosis and treatment of BC. Localized delivery of repurposed candidates through apt NCs can diminish the systemic side effects and improve anti-tumor effectiveness. However, breast tumor variability and tumor microenvironment have created several challenges to nanoparticulate delivery of repurposed cargos. This review focuses on DR as an ingenious strategy to treat BC and circumvent the drawbacks of approved anticancer therapeutics. Various nanoparticulate avenues delivering repurposed therapeutics, including non-oncology cargos and vaccines to target BC effectively, are discussed along with case studies. Moreover, clinical trial information on repurposed medications and vaccines for the treatment of BC is covered along with various obstacles in nanoparticulate drug delivery against cancer that have been so far identified. In a nutshell, DR and drug delivery of repurposed drugs via NCs appears to be a propitious approach in devastating BC.

A Sensitive Spectrofluorimetric Method for Curcumin Analysis

Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, is used as a pharmaceutical agent, spice in food, and as a dye. Currently, CUR is being investigated for cancer treatment in Phase-II clinical trials. CUR also possesses excellent activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant, therefore quality control is crucial. The present research work was to develop a new, simple, validated and time-saving rapid 96-well plate spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of CUR. The developed method was compared with routinely used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The developed method were found to be linear in the concentration range of 15 to 3900 ng/mL with R2 ≥ 0.9983 for spectrofluorimetric and 50-7500 ng/mL with R2 ≥ 0.9999 for HPLC method. Accuracy, intraday and interday precision was adequate, with RSD lower than the suggested limits. The limits for the detection and the quantification of CUR were 7 and 15 ng/mL for spectrofluorimetric, and 25 and 50 ng/mL for HPLC respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated the similarities between the two methods. The 96-well plate method was successfully applied to determine CUR in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and chitosan nanoparticles (Chi-NPs). The developed spectrofluorimetric method can hence serve as a possible replacement for the HPLC method for the quantification of CUR in healthcare and food products.

Antitumor Properties of Curcumin in Breast Cancer Based on Preclinical Studies: A Systematic Review

Simple Summary

Natural formulations and phytotherapies have shown promising antitumor activities. This review assesses the antitumor effects of curcumin on breast cancer. In particular, we discuss the effects of curcumin on the proliferation, viability, and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lineages and tumor volume. Studies have shown that curcumin administered at different concentrations inhibited proliferation, decreased viability, and induced apoptosis in human and animal breast cancer cells. Nanoparticle formulations of curcumin administered orally, via implant, or intraperitoneally reduced the tumor volume of human and murine mammary cells in vivo. Moreover, curcumin nanoformulations facilitate tumor growth inhibition in animal models of breast cancer. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin formulations for clinical use.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common neoplasms among women. Anticancer strategies using natural formulations and phytotherapies are promising antitumor treatment alternatives. This review assesses the antitumor effects of curcumin on breast cancer reported in preclinical in vitro and in vivo animal models. We used five databases to search for preclinical studies published up to May 2021. The assessments included the effects of curcumin on the proliferation, viability, and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lineages and on tumor volume. In total, 60 articles met the inclusion criteria. Curcumin administered at different concentrations and via different routes of administration inhibited proliferation, decreased viability, and induced apoptosis in human and animal breast cancer cells. Nanoparticle formulations of curcumin administered orally, via implant, and intraperitoneally reduced the tumor volume of human and murine mammary cells in vivo. Moreover, curcumin nanoformulations exert positive effects on tumor growth inhibition in animal models of breast cancer. Further randomized clinical trials are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin formulations for clinical use.

Curcumin as an Enhancer of Therapeutic Efficiency of Chemotherapy Drugs in Breast Cancer

Female breast cancer is the world’s most prevalent cancer in 2020. Chemotherapy still remains a backbone in breast cancer therapy and is crucial in advanced and metastatic breast cancer treatment. The clinical efficiency of chemotherapy regimens is limited due to tumor heterogeneity, chemoresistance, and side effects. Chemotherapeutic drug combinations with natural products hold great promise for enhancing their anticancer efficacy. Curcumin is an ideal chemopreventive and chemotherapy agent owning to its multitargeting function on various regulatory molecules, key signaling pathways, and pharmacological safety. This review aimed to elucidate the potential role of curcumin in enhancing the efficacy of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin via combinational therapy. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensitizing activity of these combinations have been addressed. Overall, based on the promising therapeutic potential of curcumin in combination with conventional chemotherapy drugs, curcumin is of considerable value to develop as an adjunct for combination chemotherapy with current drugs to treat breast cancer. Furthermore, this topic may provide the frameworks for the future research direction of curcumin–chemotherapy combination studies and may benefit in the development of a novel therapeutic strategy to maximize the clinical efficacy of anticancer drugs while minimizing their side effects in the future breast cancer treatment.

Curcumin sensitizes carboplatin treatment in triple negative breast cancer through reactive oxygen species induced DNA repair pathway

BACKGROUND

As patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a very weak response to hormone inhibition or anti-HER2 therapy, traditional chemotherapy is commonly used in these patients. Recently, carboplatin has been approved for the clinical treatment of TNBC. However, several patients exhibit resistance to carboplatin treatment. Therefore, strategies to enhance the antitumor effect of carboplatin need to be explored. In our study, we investigated the function of curcumin in increasing the response to carboplatin.

METHODS AND RESULTS

MTT and colony formation assays were used to evaluate cell viability after carboplatin and curcumin treatment. In addition, we conducted flow cytometric and Western blot analyses to examine cellular apoptosis. Subsequently, molecular and biochemical experiments were used to explore the mechanism by which curcumin sensitized TNBC to carboplatin treatment. We demonstrated that different TNBC cells responded differently to carboplatin. Low-dose carboplatin killed CAL-51 cells but barely influenced CAL-51-R and MDA-MB-231 cells. To improve the sensitivity of resistant TNBC cells to carboplatin, combined treatment with curcumin was applied and was found to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis. Mechanistically, curcumin exerted its anticancer effect by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which downregulated the DNA repair protein RAD51, leading to upregulation of γH2AX. As expected, ROS scavenger NAC reversed the inhibitory effect on growth and DNA repair pathway activity mediated by curcumin.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our data demonstrate that curcumin sensitizes TNBC to the anticancer effect of carboplatin by increasing ROS-induced DNA damage, thus providing an effective combination treatment strategy for TNBC.

Curcumin-induced antitumor effects on triple-negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft tumor mice through inhibiting salt-induced kinase-3 protein

This study demonstrated for the first time that curcumin effectively inhibits the growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors by inhibiting the expression of salt-induced kinase-3 (SIK3) protein in patient-derived xenografted tumor mice (TNBC-PDX). For TNBC patients, chemotherapy is the only option for postoperative adjuvant treatment. In this study, we detected the SIK3 mRNA expression in paired-breast cancer tissues by qPCR analysis. The results revealed that SIK3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues when compared to the normal adjacent tissues (73.25 times, n = 183). Thus, it is proposed for the first time that the antitumor effect induced by curcumin by targeting SIK3 can be used as a novel strategy for the therapy of TNBC tumors. In vitro mechanism studies have shown that curcumin (>25 μM) inhibits the SIK3-mediated cyclin D upregulation, thereby inhibiting the G1/S cell cycle and arresting TNBC (MDA-MB-231) cancer cell growth. The SIK3 overexpression was associated with increased mesenchymal markers (i.e., Vimentin, α-SMA, MMP3, and Twist) during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our results demonstrated that curcumin inhibits the SIK3-mediated EMT, effectively attenuating the tumor migration. For clinical indications, dietary nutrients (such as curcumin) as an adjuvant to chemotherapy should be helpful to TNBC patients because the current trend is to shrink the tumor with preoperative chemotherapy and then perform surgery. In addition, from the perspective of chemoprevention, curcumin has excellent clinical application value.

Development of a Prognostic Model Based on the Identification of EMT-Related lncRNAs in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains the most incurable subtype of breast cancer owing to high heterogeneity, aggressive nature, and lack of treatment options. It is generally acknowledged that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the key step in tumor metastasis.

Methods

With the application of TCGA and GEO databases, we identified EMT-related lncRNAs by the Cox univariate regression analysis. Optimum risk scores were calculated and used to divide TNBC patients into high-/low-risk subgroups by the median value using the Lasso regression analysis. The Kaplan–Meier and ROC curve analyses were applied for model validation. Then, we assessed the risk model from multi-omic aspects including immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, mutability spectrum, signaling pathways, and clinical indicators. We also analyzed the expression pattern of lncRNAs involved in the model using qRT-PCR in TNBC cell lines and constructed the ceRNA network.

Results

The risk model was composed of EMT-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which seemed to be valuable in the prognostic prediction of TNBC patients. The model could act as an independent prognostic factor of TNBC and showed a robust prognostic ability in the stratification analysis. Further investigation demonstrated that the expression of lncRNAs was different between high aggressive and low aggressive TNBC cell lines, as well as TNBC patients.

Conclusions

Together, our study successfully established a risk model with great accuracy and efficacy in the prognostic prediction of TNBC patients.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and Their Signaling Pathways as Therapeutic Targets of Curcumin in Cancer

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane cell-surface proteins that act as signal transducers. They regulate essential cellular processes like proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metabolism. RTK alteration occurs in a broad spectrum of cancers, emphasising its crucial role in cancer progression and as a suitable therapeutic target. The use of small molecule RTK inhibitors however, has been crippled by the emergence of resistance, highlighting the need for a pleiotropic anti-cancer agent that can replace or be used in combination with existing pharmacological agents to enhance treatment efficacy. Curcumin is an attractive therapeutic agent mainly due to its potent anti-cancer effects, extensive range of targets and minimal toxicity. Out of the numerous documented targets of curcumin, RTKs appear to be one of the main nodes of curcumin-mediated inhibition. Many studies have found that curcumin influences RTK activation and their downstream signaling pathways resulting in increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation and decreased migration in cancer both in vitro and in vivo. This review focused on how curcumin exhibits anti-cancer effects through inhibition of RTKs and downstream signaling pathways like the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB pathways. Combination studies of curcumin and RTK inhibitors were also analysed with emphasis on their common molecular targets.

Nutraceuticals and Cancer: Potential for Natural Polyphenols

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, associated with multifactorial pathophysiological components. In particular, genetic mutations, infection or inflammation, unhealthy eating habits, exposition to radiation, work stress, and/or intake of toxins have been found to contribute to the development and progression of cancer disease states. Early detection of cancer and proper treatment have been found to enhance the chances of survival and healing, but the side effects of anticancer drugs still produce detrimental responses that counteract the benefits of treatment in terms of hospitalization and survival. Recently, several natural bioactive compounds were found to possess anticancer properties, capable of killing transformed or cancerous cells without being toxic to their normal counterparts. This effect occurs when natural products are associated with conventional treatments, thereby suggesting that nutraceutical supplementation may contribute to successful anticancer therapy. This review aims to discuss the current literature on four natural bioactive extracts mostly characterized by a specific polyphenolic profile. In particular, several activities have been reported to contribute to nutraceutical support in anticancer treatment: (1) inhibition of cell proliferation, (2) antioxidant activity, and (3) anti-inflammatory activity. On the other hand, owing to their attenuation of the toxic effect of current anticancer therapies, natural antioxidants may contribute to improving the compliance of patients undergoing anticancer treatment. Thus, nutraceutical supplementation, along with current anticancer drug treatment, may be considered for better responses and compliance in patients with cancer. It should be noted, however, that when data from studies with bioactive plant preparations are discussed, it is appropriate to ensure that experiments have been conducted in accordance with accepted pharmacological research practices so as not to disclose information that is only partially correct.

New Insights into Curcumin- and Resveratrol-Mediated Anti-Cancer Effects

Curcumin and resveratrol are bioactive natural compounds displaying anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effects of these molecules and the molecular mechanisms involved against Her-2/neu-positive breast and salivary cancer cell lines. We found that both curcumin and resveratrol were efficient in reducing cancer cell survival and that they differently affected autophagy, ROS and activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, we found that resveratrol and curcumin in combination exerted a stronger cytotoxic effect in correlation with the induction of a stronger ER stress and the upregulation of pro-death UPR molecule CHOP. This effect also correlated with the induction of pro-survival autophagy by curcumin and its inhibition by resveratrol. In conclusion, this study unveils new molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of resveratrol, curcumin and their combination, which can help to design new therapeutic strategies based on the use of these polyphenols.