Therapeutic potential and limitations of curcumin as antimetastatic agent

Treatment of metastatic cancer is one of the biggest challenges in anticancer therapy. Curcumin is interesting nature polyphenolic compound with unique biological and medicinal effects, including repression of metastases. High impact studies imply that curcumin can modulate the immune system, independently target various met-astatic signalling pathways, and repress migration and invasiveness of cancer cells. This review discusses the potential of curcumin as an antimetastatic agent and describes potential mechanisms of its antimetastatic ac-tivity. In addition, possible strategies (curcumin formulation, optimization of the method of administration and modification of its structure motif) to overcome its limitation such as low solubility and bioactivity are also presented. These strategies are discussed in the context of clinical trials and relevant biological studies.

Automated summary

Treatment of metastatic cancer is a major challenge in anticancer therapy. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound with unique biological and medicinal effects, has been shown to inhibit metastasis in high impact studies. It can modulate the immune system, target metastatic signaling pathways, and repress migration and invasiveness of cancer cells. This review discusses the potential of curcumin as an antimetastatic agent, potential mechanisms of its antimetastatic activity, and strategies to overcome its limitations.