Curcumin: A potential therapeutic natural product for adenocarcinomas

Adenocarcinomas comprise a significant class of cancers that occur in several organs (e.g., lung, pancreas, breast, colon, and endometrium). These highly lethal tumor types are predominantly invasive with metastatic tendency. As a pharmacological option for the treatment of adenocarcinomas, curcumin has been widely used in combination with various therapeutic modalities. However, poor stability and low bioavailability of the curcumin has restricted its application in clinic. Therefore, nanoparticle-based curcumin was produced to fortify the pharmacokinetics of curcumin. Enhanced cytotoxicity and bioavailability of curcumin have been obtained by synthesizing new curcumin analogs via chemical modification. This review article aimed to survey recent findings on the role of curcumin in the treatment of adenocarcinomas in several organs and described key players of underlying molecular pathways such as the anti-proliferative, anti-apoptosis, anti-metastasis, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory mechanisms. We also described new approaches to producing curcumin-loaded nano particles and combinatorial regimens. A comprehensive literature search has been carried out on PubMed for obtaining the information related to the therapeutic activities of curcumin for adenocarcinomas therapy. The literature search resulted in many in vitro and some in vivo studies that evidenced the effectiveness of curcumin in modulating antitumor signaling pathways to treat adenocarcinomas. In addition, curcumin-loaded nano platforms can improve the efficacy against tumor cells. The present review provides a comprehensive view of the therapeutic aspects of curcumin as a treatment for multiple human adenocarcinomas, which warrants further investigation in clinical settings.

Automated summary

This review examines the role of curcumin in the treatment of adenocarcinomas in multiple organs and describes key molecular pathways involved. It also discusses the synthesis of curcumin analogs for enhanced cytotoxicity and bioavailability, and the production of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles. The literature search demonstrates the effectiveness of curcumin in modulating antitumor signaling pathways and improving therapeutic efficacy against adenocarcinoma cells. Further investigation in clinical settings is warranted.